Daytona 5K and a morning out with the girls!

The morning started 15 minutes earlier than planned. Kevin woke me up worried I forgot to set my alarm. I got around, got dressed, called Sueann and woke her up. Suezette called and I headed out to get Sueann. We met up at a gas station before we got to the race track. We head over to the track and sit in traffic for about 5 minutes until I realized these were people going into the infield for the Rolex 24. I pull out of the line and Suezette followed and went up and pulled through a parking lot to get into the unused lane that would take us to the lot we needed to go to for parking. We get situated then head into the track to catch the tram to the starting area. We pick up our chips and meet up with my friend Rich who was volunteering at the race. We are going to the line up when we found fellow runner Zik and said hello and caught up some. The Daytona 5 in 2009 is when we first met Zik and we have run a couple of races since with him! The gun is about to go off so Zik heads off closer to the front and we sit and chat until they sing the national anthem and then give the GO! The worst part of this race is the start, all these runners are trying to squeeze through this little start gate. There is NO mat at the start so it's a race you know your Garmin will be the official time for you. We head out and Suezette and I pull a little ahead of Sueann, then Suezette pulls way ahead of me. I'm still sick and not pushing a thing so I stay right where I am. I went into this race as a NO PR race and I was only there for a good run and good times with friends considering I was just getting over the flu and an upper repiratory infection! We turn the first corner before heading on to the track and over the big press box on the speedway is a bright, full rainbow. I considered running up to Suezette or stopping to wait for Sueann to point it out and figure with all the people who stopped to take pictures, they'd notice. It was beautiful! I ran on. When we met up with the walkers that were just walking the 2 mile loop of the track, it was bad, I lost time, had to slow down as they were bunched up and the runners on the left were running about 3 abreast, some would stop for walk breaks. I was glad when I finally jumped through them all and got ahead of the walkers and settled back into my pace. I hit mile 2 and I'm finally starting to feel comfortable (minus my lungs) and talked briefly to a couple whose 6 year old was running and running fast for her little legs! I passed them and then a few minutes later, that little girl went flying by with daddy who had finished much earlier and run back for her and her mom. She ran strong all the way to the finish!!! I got beat by a 6 year old!!!! I picked it up and saw Suezette, waved for a pic and picked up some more into a dead sprint for finish. I finished Garmin time in 33:41. No CR or PR but a nice almost easy run. I coughed a bit, got some water and inhaled 2 glasses! Sueann was coming in as I was getting my water, I knew she'd PRed but not by how much. Suezette came back and joined us and she had just barely missed a PR, she had an incident at a water stop with unexpected gatorade. I was 2 and 1/2 minutes slower than my CR for Daytona. We found my friend Rich and got my camera and said our goodbyes to him as we head toward the finish line on the race track for some post race pictures.

We head out to the cars and take Suezette's to Sueann's office before heading to Target to change LOL (no where else to change.) We went to breakfast at Monterey Grill and had omelets and potatoes. We then shopped for a bit then went to lunch at the Ocean Deck. We never thought to get pictures through the morning. When we left lunch it was raining, it had held out until the end of our day out. We dropped Suezette back at her car and headed out. My day was far from over. I dropped Sueann off and headed home to get some clamps for my husband and dropped them off to him at his parent's house and picked up Cody who had been running a 102.8 fever and took him to urgent care, Kevin wasn't feeling good so no Couch 2 5K for him. I decided since I was still really congested to see the doc too. Cody had an ear infection and I have the start of a sinus infection, antibiotics all around! Cody and I leave Urgent Care and head back into town when Kevin called needing brackets from Home Depot. We run to Home Depot, take the brackets to him, then head to the store for groceries and free antibiotics. I've been visiting the store regularly to get more chocolate vitatops, but yet again, sold out!!!! I called Sueann to see if she was going by the other Publix, she was so I asked her to get me some if they had them. She did! She dropped by after the store, all I had managed to do was put up groceries and get a 15 minute hot bath and she called that she was just up the road. I grabbed a banana nut vitatop for her to try and met her outside. We planned to get together this morning for a 12 mile run. I headed in and Kevin and I caught up on 24 and had a bite to eat and then I was shot and headed to bed where I slept fitfully.

Sueann and I have delayed our 12 miler until 8ish. The high today only supposed to reach 61 makes that possible. Hopefully Kevin is OK with it. As he is headed back to his parents to work on the train table for Cody. Well, I think I have made this long enough and I'd like to rest some more before heading out to run 12 miles, so off I go for now!

Next race up is Healthy Heart 10K!  Our first anniversary of our first 10K! 

Disney World Half Marathon AKA the Hypothermic Half!

Let's start with Friday night! Sueann and I got to the expo and got our race packets and I had been having some foot pain, I bought the stick for feet. It helped a lot! We missed CC at the expo and were very disappointed but had already told everyone we'd be at Earl of Sandwich at 5:30. After the expo we headed to Earl of Sandwich and met up with runners Danielle, Courtney, Barry, Mary, and Kathy. We all chatted for awhile in the cold air and then went our own ways. Barry, Sueann, Kathy and her daughter and I went to Wolfgang Puck's for dinner where Jeanine met up with us. We had a nice dinner and then headed back to our hotels to get some rest. We checked into the hotel and settled in to get at least 4 hours of sleep before the 3 am wake up call.


3 am: We get up and get dressed, text back and forth with Courtney and head down to the cafe to get a banana and some smart water to fill our fuel belts. We go out and the line for the buses is 1/4 mile long! They are moving quickly and we get on our way. We get to Epcot to the start area and one of the Disney workers welcomes us to Walt Disney World Alaska. We all laughed and wandered on into the staging area. We are cold, but up until now no precipitation. About the time we get in line for the portapotties the flurries started! I knew in these conditions and with 23000 runners in the field I would not be getting a PR at this race and I was OK with it!

We lined up, in the wrong corral!!!  I was assigned to E, Sueann to F, so I said I'd stay back with her, so we got into what we thought was F, wrong..it was G.  We jumped the gate and headed up to the correct corral.  We were watching the jumbotron and they announced it was official this was the first marathon weekend event  ever to get snow.  After we got started following fireworks and great energy from the characters on the stage, the sleet came! I looked down and saw a pink fleece scarf, so I grabbed it. Whoever left it behind, thank you!!! It kept my bare neck warm for the whole race!! The first mile flew by. I was maintaining an easy pace and when I realized I lost Sueann I slowed way down to find her. I wanted to make sure she was OK. I stayed close to her and we ran together for over half the race. I wanted to be with her when she crossed into the park and Cinderella's castle for the first time in her life. I was cold but maintaning Sueann's pace as close as I could, I really wanted to go faster, but with the tight quarters and people stopping to walk it was tough!  We got into a tight group of runners around mile 7 and as I bounded up, she wasn't able to. I noticed my pace was falling into comfortable, steady 11:45 pace, where I would have liked to have been all along. When I hit the 15K split I was down to 11:15 and feeling strong. I had several people cheering me on in my head. I needed it at times. I felt good physically through 99.9% of the run! I saw lots of characters, but didn't stop. I remember running into Epcot and thinking I did it! I ran the whole thing! We kept running and no finish line! Where is it?? I look at my Garmin, 12.95, ok just around the corner, but it wasn't, we kept turning and turning! I was trying to come across strong, but no finish line, finally at 13.24 I crossed the finish line at 2:41:07. I waited on Sueann who came in 6 minutes later at 2:47:06. We got our mylar blankets, our medals, then headed to the picture area. We got our picture taken together and then got to the food tent, then headed to baggage claim. Sueann's bag was MIA, I got mine quickly so I waited with her. I was so cold I couldn't stop shaking. A race official asked if I needed to be taken somewhere to warm up, I said I'd be fine. I wish I would have taken him up on it. We got our stuff, we were freezing, wet and miserable. We had failed to read the marathon packet all the way through (and we were not the only ones) so we had no idea the buses were in the Family Reunion area. We walked to the front of Epcot and there were NO buses to take us back to the hotels. The race was still going and the roads were shut down. We took the monorail to Magic Kingdom and got a bus from there. We went to the hotel, stripped off the wet clothes, got dry clothes on and headed to the gift shop for hot fluids and items for our kids. We headed back to the expo and bought shirts and then headed home. My husband had a hot bath with peppermint epsom in it filling for me when I got home. I took a hot bath, he brought in a hot towel from the dryer and I got out and headed to the couch. I took a short nap.  Cody has been begging to keep my medal, he loves Donald Duck! 

I know Sueann isn't as confident on it, but I'm seriously considering doing Goofy in 2011.  I will be watching registration which opens today at noon.  I'm hoping it won't fill up right away, I'd like to get a 20 miler in to make sure I like the long distances before I sign up for 39.3!

Space Coast Half Marathon

I woke this morning after a very rough night of very little sleep. I turned on the tv and checked the weather mid 50s with 73% humidity. I prayed it wouldn't get much warmer. I called Sueann and made sure she was up. I was tired and not feeling motivated. I got dressed and ready, made my muffin with laughing cow cheese, grabbed my banana, water and gear and headed out the door. I picked Sueann up and headed to the race site in Cocoa, it was at the same race site as Pumpkins so we knew right were to go!


We pull in at the race site, get our D tags and bibs on and headed for the park. It was chilly right next to the water. As we got into the park we called Suezette and found her and her husband. I texted Jeanine to let her know we were there. They found us and we all chit chatted before Jeanine and CC went to get their fuel belts and find Magda. We hit the potties 3 times before race start. Nerves!!

As we approach the start line the realization of how big this race was became obvious. Suezette, Sueann and I split from Jeanine, CC and Magda and slid into the crowd. We got our picture taken as the crowd started moving. We had no idea the race had started. We slowly start walking forward, speeding up as we get close to the start mats. We run through Cocoa Village and out onto a road that runs alongside the intercoastal, the weather is perfect out and even though it is still dark the Christmas lights on houses and the lights on the water make this a peaceful, scenic run.

The first 2 miles my ankle was burning, but it let up. I lost track of when I lost Sueann and Suezette, but by mile 4 Suezette had caught up with me. We chatted and time flew by, we passed Jeff Galloway (he was already headed back from the turn around) and his wife and Suezette pointed them out to me. We took our first walk break at the turn around, it was a hair pin turn and we had just grabbed water. Suezette also took the time to let her husband know she was 1/2 done. We were still feeling good and having fun conversation. Suezette was terrified of the 11 mile mark, I kept reassuring her, I'd be there, I'd drag her across that finish line if I had to. We ran past the 11 mile mark and she was feeling good! I was starting to fatigue, the very little sleep I had gotten over the last 4 days was kicking in. At 12.5 miles I told Suezette to finish strong, she felt bad for leaving me, but I wanted her to make her goal. She finished at 2:36:01, I finished right behind her at 2:36:41. Sueann was only 5 minutes behind us. CC and Jeanine had finished just over 2 hours.

Once we got across the finish, we got our medals and beach towels, took pictures with the "finisher astronaut" and then went and grabbed a slice of pizza and water and streched. We stayed and waited on Magda (Smurfette) to come in from her marathon to cheer her in and then we all said our goodbyes. Sueann and I headed home to some hot epsom salt baths!

I'm now finally finishing this...sitting on the couch with thermacare wraps around my knees, the only thing bothering me. They were like this after the 15K and the next day they were fine. Today I didn't have the bad groin pain, so I think tomorrow I will be better than after the 15K! I think the marathon is becoming more attainable! I have 5 months left and a lot of ground to make up after my time off. I know I have plenty of time, I know what I am capable of. I know with Sueann and all my Spark friends, family and friends off of Spark I can so do it! If I can pull off a half without training properly (NOT RECOMMENDED!) I know with training that I am capable of anything!!

Paul DeBryun 15K

Wow! I am still in shock. I stayed up later than planned last night watching Up with the family. I had a horrible time getting to sleep (last I looked at the clock it was after 11. When the alarm went off at 3:45 all I wanted to do was go back to bed!!! I don't know how Jeanine and CC got up as early as they did! I got around, took a bath (forgot to shave last night LOL.) I e-mailed back and forth with Sueann, got a call from Jeanine when they got into New Smyrna and headed out the door to get Sueann.


The morning was cool and clear at around 55, the temp fell off when we got to the restaurant the race was starting at. We found Jeanine and CC and went through all the pre-race stuff. When it was time to line up the 30Kers (CC and Jeanine) were starting further back and on the other side of A1A. When we started I hung with Sueann, I stayed with her the first 3 miles before I slowly started pulling away. We saw the most beautiful sunrise with a cloud bank on the horizon and waves crashing on the beach. I really wished I had had my camera! I took it really easy and ran my slowest 5K ever I had just passed the 5K mark when the winner flew by the other way..he took it in under 60 minutes (I think they said 53 and some change)...HOLY SPEED DEMON!!! Then a slow 10K, I don't know if it was my slowest, I'd have to go back and look. I was starting to get fatigued at 7 miles, got a gel down and started feeling better. I saw Jeanine and CC going into their 2nd 15K in the last 1/2 mile of mine. I was stoked, I hadn't walked a pace, not even for water or gels. I actually managed to get to an 8:18/mile for the end. I had no idea when I got to the finish I had gashed a toe open with a toenail from another toe. My shoe was covered in blood, they told me when I came across the finish. I had noticed my sock sticking to me and was confused after the first 5 miles but ignored it. There was enough blood I couldn't find where it was coming from and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. The one day I forget my flip flops! I crossed the finish line at 1:48:42. Sueann crossed 4 minutes behind me, she also ran the whole thing!!!!

I know now I'll be OK for Space Coast as long as I keep it steady. I need to stretch better after, I'm a little sore now, but I'm so happy.

I even had negative splits!!! First 5K - 37:44 2nd 5K - 36:32 and the final 5K - 34:26. Avg Pace was 11:44. Considering the farthest I've run in over 2 months was the 5 miles I pulled Friday...HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!

I will run that race again, it was nice. We ran asphalt, hard packed sand, cement and wooden boardwalk. My favorite part!!!! I always love running the boardwalk!!

I have to give CC kudos for pulling off a 30K!! You did awesome CC!! I also want to give Jeanine a huge kudos, she attempted a 30K with the flu! I had no idea she was that sick, that is hard core!!!! Awesome job, you almost had it!!!!!! I'm soooo proud of the 3 girls (Sueann, CC and Jeanine) who ran the race today I can't even put it into words!!!

I'm ready for a nap! I think I darn well deserve it! I now know, I was made for distance not speed! I enjoyed the 15K distance the most of the distances I've done, I'm think the 15K or the 1/2 may just be my distance!!

Paint the Town 5K

Most of you know I've been battling some hip issues for the last 2 months. It has been really hard on me as I haven't been able to run without pain and extreme tightness when I am done. I had a massage Thursday with a new therapist who spent a lot of time working the kinetic chain of my left side. He worked my back, my buttock and my leg, paying attention to the TFL, gluteus medius, minimus, the piriformis and the IT band. I had no idea my left IT band was that tight! He loosened it some, I hydrated really well and did a yoga stretch before bed like he recommended. Friday and Saturday, I worked with the foam roller and stretched before bed, like advised.


I got up this morning, my right side was sore! Not my left. What the heck? It quickly worked itself out and I spent some time on the roller working my glutes and left IT band. I got ready and was feeling OK. I knew the test is when I would have to get out of the car, if it hurts the run is going to suck. It didn't bother me that bad. I didn't want to risk a big warm up to where I might inflame the area. We lined up, it was really breezy and starting to get warm. The first mile went well, but 1.25 I had to stop and walk, my lungs hated me. I am soooo out of shape from not being able to run. I walked for a minute then ran some more until my lungs needed another break, this went on for the rest of the race. At 2.85 miles I decided no matter how hard my lungs had to work I was going to finish strong and at least get a course record. I knew at the beginning there would be no PR. I came around the corner and the wind hit me like a brick wall, I slowed down, decided to fight it and powered on to the bridge, this part hurt. I was running a slight incline in to heavy wind. I was so happy to crest the bridge to try and pick up the pace on the downhill into the finishing chute.

I have really had to tell myself, I did my best, I know I could have PRed on this race if I had pushed harder, however, if I had I could be in bad shape now. Sueann was right behind me by 2 minutes. She had a massive side stitch and I could see her struggling to breathe. She made it though and I had to coach her through the best I could. We got our water, lined up for a nice spread of fruit and bagels, then to the chiropractic tent to get stretched by the pros! This was the more painful but best part. I had an intern who really worked my sore spots. I wouldn't know how well he had done until I got home. It didn't hurt to get out of the car! After runs, sitting for 15+ minutes make standing extremely painful. I can feel the area, but the pain is minimal, just some soreness.

I'm going to continue aggressively with therapy from the massage therapist and I will be seeing the intern who worked on me today for myofascial release. I am hoping that by Space Coast I will be able to get my fitness back up cardio wise, muscle wise I will be fine. So I'm not as depressed today, things ARE looking up!!!

Pumpkins in the Park 5K

Kevin suggested I should run this race as his boss and co-worker were going to be there. So I talked Sueann into it, not that it was a hard thing to do :) We got to the race site, then Sueann called, we are almost 50 miles off and with an hour to go her husband hadn't gotten home yet. I was freaked she wouldn't make it. I didn't get in a much needed warm up to get my hip loose before the race as Kevin felt I needed to watch the kids, they wanted to play and he didn't want to keep an eye on them.
Sueann gets there within 2 minutes of the gun going off. We head out, I'm running strong, I feel good, I was shocked at the pace my Garmin was showing, I'm varying between 8:30 - 9:40 on my pace for the first mile. My hip popped, fear hit me and I stopped and walked. The hip loosened up, I ran, then walked, then ran, then walked, the walks getting longer as starting back up caused more pain than when I was walking or running, both were bothering me, the hip was tight. I don't know how I stayed ahead of her, except for the fact my running pace was so good, the walking pace varied between 14-16. It was hot too. The last mile or so was along the intercoastal and was nice to look at. I managed to run the end but not a sprint. I got lost in the crowd for awhile limping around, let my hip cool off, found everyone and then took the boys over for the kids run. After the kids run I stretched only my hip, man it felt good to do. The drive home was quiet. We stopped at a drive in and got sandwiches and then headed home were I iced my hip.

As for my injury, I talked to the doc, the pain has spread to my gluteus medius, I'm on treatment and massages to bring the extreme tightness down to a normal level in my left hip, it's moving into my lower back. Docs orders are no running, although he OKd me for the race Sunday, then 2 weeks of nothing, no stairs that can be avoided, no strength training, no running, take it real easy. I will more than likely walk my first half marathon, better to walk than try to run with NO training and injure myself worse or again. If I'm cleared to run for the 1/2, it will be all intervals, 2-3 run 1 walk.

Ugh!

Today, I hurt. I can barely walk up the stairs from a horrible pain in my left hip. I am angry and frustrated as this is 12 hours post run. My first real run back. I felt the tightness in my run, but it was bearable, more an annoyance than pain. All the other little aches and pains disappeared going into the 2nd mile. My hip stayed with me the full 4.25 miles (had I remembered a gel, it would have been longer so that will tell you it wasn't bad at all.)

Today, I attempted self-diagnosis. The pain I have is on the outside of my hip around the top outside area of the pelvic bone, the iliac crest. It is localized to that area, no radiating pain, an area about the size of my hand. The only thing in that area that makes sense is the IT band, more specifically the Tensor fasciæ latæ. My only course of action for correcting, core and hip strength training. Not too shabby for treatment but do I have time to get it back up to par in time? I also realize I've had this pain before, about 3-4 weeks after I gave up the gym. So, back to the gym I go as I am walking like a crippled old person. I have sympathy for them, this is painful! You don't realize how much is connected until you start running. Coach Nancy always tells us about the kinetic chain, well, my kinetic chain is telling me I need a stronger core and hips to help this one little area!

I have 6 1/2 weeks until my first half and I seem to be hitting every issue known to man! Pulled Piriformis, severe upper respiratory infection, agitated hip. Tonight, I will do some home exercises plus pilates to help with the core, stretch and ice. Tomorrow, depending on how it feels I will do a 3 mile easy run, followed by stretching and icing.

I did try the Galloway method and I like it. I will be using it for this half and will work on fully building up for Disney after Space Coast. I am running Pumpkins in the Park on Oct. 30 with a bunch of my husband's co-workers, so I'm hoping my little issue doesn't present itself for that!

Well, it's a typical busy Monday and this little blog has taken 2 hours!