Cherry Blossom Race Review

As I exited the porta john, the race director's voiced boomed through the speakers, "5! 4! 3! 2! 1!" And just as I leaped the second chain fence, "GO!" What a way to start my first road race.

I jumped in about 25 yards behind the start line so "GO!" was a bit anticlimactic. The herd of people walked up to the start line where I began a restrained jog. Navigating the crowd was like trying to move to the front at a rock festival. "Elbows out!" Dipak (good friend from college and frequent concert goer) always told me. Right on.

I had to shuffle step several times to avoid running over people. I darted to the outside the first chance I got where the flow forward was less clogged. After a half mile or so, I was able to ease into my stride comfortably. I was pushing my self and my legs felt fresh. My two week layoff helped with that. Typing (speaking) of, two weeks ago (notice the lack of posts?) I knew the 10 miler wasn't happening (at least not without crawling across the finish line at the time limit), so I stopped training and switched to the 5K race. That was a bummer, but reality is sometimes. However, I saw alot of people with 10 miler bibs running the 5K, which made me feel a little better on the inside. I know that shouldn't make me feel better, but it does.

After the pack thinned out, the Memorial Bridge approached along with the "1 Mile" marker. What a beautiful setting: running from the cherry blossoms, across the Potomac, toward Arlington Cemetary. Before I got off the bridge, the leaders passed me going the other way. There was a kid, looked like he was in middle school, in about 5th place. Dude! Getting whooped that badly by a middle schooler is not cool.

As I passed the halfway point, I saw Santa Claus handing out water at the aid station. Thanks for the Xmas offering St. Nick, but no thanks. Back on the bridge, I passed the "2 Mile" marker and my two-week-layoff freshness turned into two-week-layoff rust. I could feel the burn.

I had to push hard through the last mile or so while the trees canopied the road in full bloom..gorgeous! As I crossed the finish line (trying to remain standing), I reflected on the struggle (damn hips!) to get to there. It wasn't the finish line I had hoped to cross, but it felt good nonetheless to cross a finish line.

My time was 26:35 (8:34 pace), which was good for 102nd place overall and 64th male (out of 410). Awesome! Also, I was beat handily by a 71 year old and a 9 year old. Not quite as awesome. Kevin finished the 10 Miler in 1:12:20 for 1044th overall out of 14500+. Way to go Brosef! Check out his eventual race review at Kmax Trax.

The Cherry Blossom race was great. It was well organized with lots of volunteers. THANK YOU volunteers! The setting was amazing, the weather spectacular, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. I'll definitely try to get in the 10 miler again next year.

10 Day Hiatus

As all 20 visitors from the last week and a half have noticed, I haven't posted in 10 days. Haven't been in the mood. I didn't post about my 4 mile run from a week ago Sunday. My legs actually felt normal before, during, and after the run. Exciting times that didn't last long. Another 4 miler on Wednesday went ok. Thursday, the legs were screaming. No, they weren't screaming "are we here yet?"

                                  You Tube has weird stuff

A five hour car ride to NYC didn't help on Friday either.  But NYC was awesome as always and lots of fun.  I had planned to run through Central Park for a 5 miler on Saturday, but the legs weren't having any of it.  I was really looking forward to that...extremely disappointing. I did go down to lower Manhattan with Jeff for a couple hours.  We probably walked several miles.  That counts right?

Tree lined path along the Hudson river

Sweet eagle!  Some sort of WWII memorial.

As close as I've ever been to the Statue of Liberty. See it back there?

I've given up trying to stick to a training schedule for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (5K?). I'm just...whatever. To perk up my spirits, I'm riding in my first ever MTB race this Saturday...I think. Kevin e-mailed some guy who says he'll give up his registration, but the transfer hasn't happened yet. I don't even know where or what the race is. I'll post an update about the race...hopefully, within the next 10 days.

Blah

I haven't felt like posting much this week because I'm getting tired of writing about leg issues.  I did get a foam roller, which is for self massage, core strengthening, and relieving muscle tightness.  It helped my sore hamstrings, but it seems like that soreness just moved up to my glutes. The foam roller definitely does something. I'm just trying to figure out exactly what. This instructional video helps.  

If (future) Dr. J won't massage my legs, the Go Fit foam roller will

I'm skipping my scheduled 4 mile run today to go ride the Baker's Dozen MTB course. I believe it's the same course as the Snotcycle race, but riding clockwise instead of counter.  The course is on a private farm and the owners are gracious enough to open it up today.  Difficult to pass up.  So, I'll squeeze my 4 miler in tomorrow and adjust this week's runs accordingly.  

A Possible Cause

I may have discovered a biomechanical cause for my sore hips. Yesterday, I noticed that when I tense my glutes (yes! buns-of steel), that I could feel the burning. Weird, who would have thunk a tight tush would cause such issues.

Ever since then, I have been trying to make a conscious effort to relax all my leg muscles. So far, so good.

After a cookout and 4 adult beverages yesterday (thank you warm weather and DST), my legs were tight this morning. A recipe for frustration lately.

This afternoon, I warmed up, stretched (which didn't do much) and ran my scheduled 1.5 miles. Granted, I ran slow and stopped for a 4 minute stretch break about 5 minutes in, but I concentrated on making sure my legs were relaxed. Lo and behold, I sat in a chair all afternoon without much discomfort. YEEHAW!

Hopefully I figured something out, or maybe I just had a good day.

Some Say Suck It Up

I had some interesting discussions yesterday with Kevin. He's been laid up all week, recovering from wisdom teeth removal. I wanted to head over to REI to spend my 2008 dividend on another bike mount for my rack. Kevin wanted to go too. I suggested that we get a short road ride in because of the 60+ degree (F) temperatures.

I had a 3 mile run to do before I could go out. To make a long story short, I finished the 3 miles, but I had to stop at least 4 times for thorough stretching during the run just to finish. 37 minutes of run time (really slow) took me at least 50 minutes clock time. Needless to say, I finished, but my legs weren't in that great of shape.

I decided that a road ride wasn't the best idea as I need to give my legs as much rest as possible. This disappointed Kevin greatly because he had been waiting all week to ride. As usual with the two of us, the mood was a bit adversarial because everything has to be a competition and neither one of us likes to admit defeat.

Kevin told me to suck it up and quit whining about my legs. I tried to explain that I wanted to ride just as much as he did and that I was dissappointed too. I may have thrown an "I hope you get a repeptitve injury some day so that you might understand" in there. Uncalled for, but boys will be boys. My point was that I am sucking it up in an attempt to still run the Cherry Blossom race.

So what's better, sucking it up by playing trough the pain or resting?

If I rest, then I shouldn't be training at all for the Cherry Blossom race, and I probably wouldn't train for much of anything at all because it seems that something always aches more than I'd like. That doesn't work. But I don't want to suck it up when I shouldn't and cause real problems down the line.

It's a delicate balance. Yesterday, I drew the line between my run and a road ride.

Seesaws Go Up And Down

Like a seesaw, so go my hips.  I could feel it before my run while stretching.  I thought I warmed up pretty well, but I guess not.  During the first mile (of 2), I decided that my foot strike is all over the place...heel, arch, outside, ball...I can't seem to consistently hit the same part of my foot.  I don't know if I'm concentrating on it toom much because of this hip thing or if I've always been inconsistent and  just haven't noticed it.  Supposedly hip bursitis is caused by poor biomechanics.  If I had stuck with biomedical engineering in college maybe I would know the cause, but I've been told over pronating can cause it, which I tend to do.  Wish I knew a running specialist doctor who would observe me on a treadmill for 10 minutes.  

You know what hurts the worst?  Sitting down.  The actual run isn't bad nor afterwards during cooldown and stretching.  It's when I sit down for long periods back in my office when it's the worst. 

Welcome Week #2

Week #2 of Cherry Blossom 10 Miler training (redux) kicked off today with a successful 1.25 miler.   With all the snow aroud here, the treadmill was my only option.  In fact, one of the reason's I went to work, instead of staying home to spend QT with (future) Dr. J (who got the day off), was that I wanted to use the treadmill.  

Here's a list of everything that went into my 1.25 miler:

1)  Warmup on stair stepper (6 min)

2)  Stretch - quads, hammy's, calfs (twice...mine are chronically tight), inner thighs, hip flexors, & outer thighs (IT Band) (15 min)

3)  Run 1.25 mi (13 min 15 sec)

4)  Cool Down (3 min)

5)  Stretching - more of the same

Over 50 minutes of activity just to run 1.25 miles!  Now that's a slow pace.  At least runner's world gives me an extra 0.05 mi and rounds up to 1.3 (see right). 

Dos Millas Mas

Two more miles! It's such a short distance, but it's been over a month since I ran that far. It's an important physical milestone, but an even bigger mental one. My body felt a bit sluggish compared to where I left off, which is expected.

I've been reading alot online and talking to other runners about coming back from injuries. From all the information I've gathered, coming back from a month off is a big deal. Especially with regards to overdoing it. Supposedly, even a week or two off and one loses significant speed and/or endurance ability. You have to cut your weekly miles down a bunch when coming back. It seems that running is a sport where you need to maintain your abilities consistently...a couple runs per week.

This is an aspect of running that I don't like. It's frustrating that I went skiing, got hip bursitis, took a month to recover, and now I have to essentially start over. The body is a fickle bitch I suppose.

I contrast this to cycling where I basically didn't ride for four months (ok, I rode my MTB twice). My last couple rides in October were 16.5 miles to/from work each way (33 total). Then in February after four months off, I rode 10+ and 15+ miles on consecutive days. And I didn't get exhausted at all. I like that I was able to ride about half my maximum distance from four months ago with only 2 MTB rides in between. It seems that my cycling base stayed with me much longer than my running base, and that's something I can get into!

The good news is that I'm back on track to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler five weeks from tomorrow.

Wednesday Training Haiku

one point five miles on
treadmill, no burning hip pain
a baby step YES!

Crossing My Fingers

Today is the day that I set as the deadline to start training again if I'm going to take part in the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. I went to the gym at lunch. Stretched a little. Did some core strengthening exercises. Jogged a mile. Stretched some more. So far, no pain (6 hours later). Also, I didn't take any ibuprofen at lunch, which means I would feel any pain. I'm crossing my fingers hoping that this will hold out.

P.S. A great outer hip (abductor) exercise: tie a stretchy band in a loop, put it around your ankles, and shuffle one direction for 10 ft. Rinse and repeat in the other direction.

Hopefully, I'm Really Back This Time

I went to my doc today about the hip pain.  After I made the appointment on Friday, I started doing some IT band stretches, which helped alot.  By Monday, I wasn't experiencing any pain at all.  I almost cancelled my appointment this morning, but I kinda forgot to do so within 24 hours.  

I'm glad I went.  My diagnosis (woe...that makes it sound serious) is an infected inflammed bursa sac.  The outside of the hip has a fluid filled sac (a bursa) that is supposed lubricate between the Iliotibial (IT) band, a tendon, and the hip.  The bursa becomes inflammed when the ITB tightens.  According to WebMD, it is more common in middle-aged to elderly women rather than ounger men...yeay me.  It can also be called Iliotibial Band Syndrome. 

Rx:  ice, ibuprofen, stretching

My doc poked, prodded, and told me that I was good to go for running again as long as I take it slow. 

I was planning to go to the gym at lunch...stretch, bike or row for 15 minutes, and stretch some more.  But I decided to walk/run/walk for 15 minutes instead.  I did feel something this afternoon in the hip area, but I did some ITB stretches a couple times at work.  Then, I stretched my legs completely when I got home.  

Feeling good...great knowing that I can sort-of run again.  

Back In The Saddle...Well Maybe

So I finally ran again today. Whew! It was really nice. Toward the end of last week, my burning hips had mostly been extinguished and it was onto my knee pain. Luckily, the weather was on my side and I got to ride my road bike both weekend days.

Knee (to Road Bike): You are my friend. Whenever I'm in pain, you help comfort me.

Road Bike (to knee): You used to hate me! You complained about me all the time.

Knee (to Road Bike): Yes, but that was before Hands moved the seat post to the correct height. Now I love you!

(Knee and Road Bike hug and the curtains close)

Now that the play has finished derailing this post, back to the subject.

I had a dream last night that I ran and my knee hurt alot afterwards. So, what happens next? Of course, I woke up and my knee hurt. I had planned on running in the morning while (future) Dr. J was showering, but my knee hurt. DAMN! It went back and forth my head...it's been a week and a half, I should be able to run...but my knee hurts I don't want to get more injured...yes, but there's only 8 weeks left until the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, I have to run sometime or another and it'll be most convenient right now instead of at lunch...but my knee hurts, etc, etc, etc.

I let the decision come down to temperature. If it was warm...then I would run. If not, I knew it was going to be fairly nice again today...low 50's...so I could go at lunch. Or I could just wait until Wednesday or Saturday because my knee hurts!

Turns out it was 37 degrees, which sounded too close to 32 degrees, which is freezing, and I didn't want to run enough to run when it's freezing outside. See how my mind plays games?

I took my running clothes to work, half expecting to bail. Lunch time came around and I made the decision to test the legs. It was about 50...chilly in just a t-shirt and shorts...but it turned out to be perfect once I got warmed up. I ran 2 miles at 10:24 pace. Just enough to call it a workout, yet slow enough go easy on my knee-sy. Bad joke...I'm aware.

After the run, I stretched for about ten minutes. Stretching is supposed to be good for sore joints, so I'm trying to branch out from my usual quad-hamstring-calf routine. I didn't feel much discomfort in my knee or hips afterwards...just a small something in my hip. 7 hours later, my legs feel about the same as before I ran. I'll take a couple ibuprofen today and tomorrow with dinner just in case.

Feels great to be back at it!

Yes, I'm Tired Because I've Been Running Through My Dreams

Last night I had a dream where I was running.  It wasn't a training run, but a swift jog to catch up to a friend.  Maybe this is a sign that I'll be back on roads this week!

#10

as part of the whole finishing-a-marathon-life-goal thing, i signed up for the cherry blossom 10 miler which is in April. Kevin, Aimee, and some coworkers wanted to sign up, so i thought it would be fun to race with people i know...plus 10 miles is a good stepping stone distance toward the big 26.2. my goal is to do a half marathon by the end of this season and a marathon sometime next year.

by the way...the cherry blossom festival is a great time to visit DC...the trees are gorgeous! i couldn't find my pictures, but trust me...it's one of my favorite times of the year to visit the monuments.

having a race as an event to work toward really helps motivate me to keep up with training. i used Smartcoach from Runner's World to plan my training schedule. having a schedule also gets me going because it makes me aware of what i need to do on a certain day to get one step...or in this case many strides...closer to my goal.

i've got a big day tomorrow...5 miles...it will be my longest run ever...and my legs are still really tight from all the walking i did on inauguration day...should have stretched afterwards...damn you Matchbox and your tasty craft beers! i have doubts about being able to make the full 5 because i normally do my long run on saturdays and the legs aren't feeling great right now. my previous longest run is a 4.9 mile gallop last spring...which i only did once. hopefully all goes well tomorrow.

Treadmill Trick

like a snow shovel square across the face...many many times...the wind beat me on my way to the gym today...so i decided to run my 3 miles on the treadmill...i should have started this blog in the summer so i wouldn't complain about the cold so much.    

one of the reasons i think running is so boring...i'm not an ipod-while-running-guy because i can't find earphones that i like...earbuds fall out all the time unless i jam them in my ear canals...which mom wouldn't like.  i also tried the ones with the plastic clip that goes over the top of the ear...but those kill me from all the bouncing around.  have suggestions?

running is boring...but running on the treadmill i equate to sitting through one of Ben Stein's classes from Ferris Bueller's Day Off...not a matter of staying awake...but how far the pen will go into my eye socket...at least that might stimulate my brain...Bueller......Bueller....OUCH!  the treadmill is worse because i constantly stare at the time elapsed and distance...calculating how much longer and further i have to go...excrutiating.

i discovered a way around this today...certainly not new to all mankind...but new to me.  i put a Bicycle magazine over the numbers...brilliant...can't see the numbers that way.  turns out i couldn't read the magazine because the text kept moving up and down...so i added another wrinkle...i envisioned the scenery along a 3 mile run route i take sometimes...and quickly realized that i shouldn't be closing my eyes while on a moving treadmill.  i checked on my time elapsed and distance progress about every five minutes and recalibrated the scenery.

now...if only i had packed something other than my fleece lined tights and a long sleeve shirt...the gym woudn't have seemed to be on fire. 

Four Mile Run Review

yestersday's four mile run was cold. laying in bed, i could feel mother nature's bitterness through the windows and underneath the down comforter...i didn't want to move...but i had to because i was scheduled to help jamy...that's j and amy...move to their new house...congrats you two! beautiful home.

anyway...i knew i had to get moving. two options...find a treadmill or do my best Rocky imitation...not the Kentucky fried idiot chasing chickens in Rocky II...but the Rocky IV badass sprinting up snowy siberian hills with a log across his shoulders...in the capatilists' fight against communism. I left the log, snow, and hills at home...but it sure felt like siberia out there.

a half mile into my run...when i looped past my street on the way to the park...i really wanted to take a right and go home, pack it up, and find my treadmill...just a split minute thought...i know split second is the saying...but my brain freeze made it feel like a minute.

so another half mile down the street...after self diagnosing frostbite...i saw what appeared to be cones marking road work. lo and behold...other people wearing tights, gloves, hats, and...bib numbers?...rounded the corner in the coned off section. someone actually scheduled a race for january 17th...and about 100 people showed up to race...UNBELIEVABLE!

here i thought i would be the only one stupid enough to run yesterday...and i saw more people running than i ever have on my route. well if 100 of them could do it...i could finish another 3 miles.

i felt really good for most of the run...was even ahead of my goal pace by 0:30 per mile..but then...in the last half mile...i started to feel discomfort in my knees and shins. first thought? shin splints...DAMN...but by the end the discomfort went away. guess i'll find out during monday's run if it is shin splints...or just a mental trick.

i'm sort of paranoid about injuries...thinking that minor pains or discomforts are indications of serious problems...that's a topic i'll have to cover another time.

Are all my limbs still attached?

this was the thermometer reading when i got back from my 4 mile run this morning! talk about killing the spirit...17 degrees (F) is COLD. i wore fleece lined tights and i still couldn't feel my legs most of the run. but i guess it's all relative...as Einstein would say...because this guy thinks when the temperature gets up to 18, it will feel really good

What's Your First Thought When Your Collar Bone Snaps?

great question...hypothetically...terribly painful when my collar bone actually broke.

THANK YOU OVER-ZEALOUS-TWO-HAND-TOUCH-FOOTBALL-PLAYER-GUY! (this isn't a Bud Light commercial)

what does this have to do with "the mental physical challenge"? glad you asked...because the first real thought i had (other than my shoulder is dislocated so i'll rotate it a couple times to be sure...OUCH...don't try that at home) was that i won't be able to run a marathon. if i were a marathoner, this would make sense...but i pretty much HATE RUNNING!

i was scheduled to do my first triathlon the very next weekend with Kevin...so i had been running some to train for that...but the farthest i ever went was a slim shady less than 5 miles. of the three events, running was definitely my least favorite to train for...because....it's.........so................boring!

some people say they love running because they either zone out...or get in the zone (autozone?)...i personally prefer the zone blitz. biking offers thrilling speeds and ever changing scenery while swimming requires alot of concentration on technique...but running...what is there? left foot...right foot...left foot...don't trip. if there's a ball involved, i can run all day...but running by itself offers the same mindless, repetitve, boringness over and over.

the subconcious was trying to tell me something. with running a marathon being the first thing i thought of when OZTHTFPG came into my life, i'm listening. finishing a marathon is now one of my life goals.

if only my first post-continous-collar-bone thought had been..."i won't get to taste homebrew" or "i won't get to watch the Cleveland Browns win the superbowl".