In Search of My Body vol. 10 - taking it one paper towel at at time

[HockeyKat]

Congrats on your loss this week Paula!

Ok longtime runners...does it ever stop hurting? I'm just frustrated today. Got on the treadmill next to two REAL runners (y'know, like you girls!) and who knows how long they had been running, but they never stopped! They ran and ran and ran the whole time I was on the treadmill (30 minutes) and ran FAST. I know I shouldn't compare, but I feel like I'm not really improving much? I only walked for about 3 minutes out of the whole 30, and I still had almost the same pace as the other day. And I was whooped by 2.4 miles. HOW am I ever going to run 13 miles? Any my freaking knees ache like mad now and I'm just pissed that my damn fat body won't do what my mind wants it to. Sigh.

I'm sorry, I'm sure you didn't realize it was pity-party-for-Karen-day!

Okay, you must be confusing me for someone else!

E, Nancy, and Ronda run straight through, so I suppose they are the "real" runners of the bunch.

I follow the Galloway method, which does run/walk intervals, and I have no shame in doing so.

Right now I am very conservative with my intervals (see injury history below) and am walking 4 min, running 1 min, and averaging a 14:30-15 min mile. So I am FAR from fast!!!


At one point last summer, after 6 months of training, I could consistently do a 10-11mm on a short run (under 3 miles), using a 2:1 or 3:1 interval (2 min run, 1 min walk).

I finished the Chicago RnR half on Aug 2010, in the heat, in 2:49 doing a 2:1 interval for the first 7 miles and mostly walking the last 6.1 (injury). OBX half, in Nov 2010, was a 1:1 interval and I finished in 3 hours even.

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the left shin in November, after the half (well I likely had it during, based on pain levels), and spent Nov/Dec in a walking boot and not allowed to exercise, so I am essentially starting over.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oh Kat, I don't think interval running isn't real! Galloway has run how many marathons?!? AND, I think it actually adds to your speed, after looking at my notes from the past few weeks. I think it's a distance thing for me, I just feel like I'm playing a runner and I want to BE a runner. I don't know when it's going to click in my head that I am a runner b/c I run, no matter how much, but it just doesn't click some days. I wonder if I'll always be hurting (physically) or if I'll actually be able to run and then not hobble around the rest of the day.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

and I'm really sorry for all the complaining, I think my S.A.D. is starting to kick in. I thought I would avoid it this winter with the running, but the longer winter goes on, the more crappy I feel.

 

[HockeyKat]

Oh Kat, I don't think interval running isn't real! Galloway has run how many marathons?!? AND, I think it actually adds to your speed, after looking at my notes from the past few weeks. I think it's a distance thing for me, I just feel like I'm playing a runner and I want to BE a runner. I don't know when it's going to click in my head that I am a runner b/c I run, no matter how much, but it just doesn't click some days. I wonder if I'll always be hurting (physically) or if I'll actually be able to run and then not hobble around the rest of the day.

I spent all of my training for the Princess 2010 whining and hurting. 8 weeks or so, I think.

It was only after the Princess and probably 4 months into the running thing, that I stopped hurting so much. I was also in reasonably okay shape, if way overweight, due to playing hockey. I have never had the hip flexor and IT band issues that others have had, likely because those muscles were already developed some.

No worries on the complaining. I moved South on purpose due to SAD. I have so much less issues down here, as it is a lot warmer and sunnier and it makes such a difference. December is still a tough month for me, but the rest have improved tons.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Weigh in this week was good. It was a loss so that is progress.

I'm really happy to hear that. Progress is always good. (oh my. I'm definitely in Princess mode. Remember singing "there's a great big beautiful tomorrow" ???? )

and thanks for the encouraging words Paula. I needed them right now.

I would bet it's a goat.

Nancy--a new baby! I'm still ticked that we don't get to help name them! (Jo--GOATS...we talking about baby goats! )

99 times out of 100 you would be RIGHT! But not this time. I just got home from work, so I'm going to see if I can get a decent picture for you.

Went to noon chapel service for Lisa. Hoping she will check in as soon as possible.

I had a good 4 miler this morning too! I'm so happy about that since last Mondays run was a real stinker.

Ok longtime runners...does it ever stop hurting? I'm just frustrated today.

Patience Karen. Patience. and persistance. It'll happen, and probably so slowly that you won't even notice until one day you look back and say "huh! Look what I just did!"



Lisa - thinking of you!

Ok. I'm going to attempt a photo, then I have a really cute story to share. I'll be back in a bit

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Momma was being nosey and wouldn't move her ample behind out of the way. This is the best I could do today. Her name is Adelle.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

OMG Nancy!!!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

oh the story. I almost forgot

I was at work today, and the owners grandson came over after he got home from kindergarten. LOVE this kid. He is just an awesome little guy. Anyway, I hadn't seen him in a while and we were talking about how he had so much snow in his yard.

I asked him if he made any snowmen. Yes, they made one snowman. His name was Frosty. But he tipped over, and when Jack (my little friend) looked out the window, all he could see was his bottom ball. BUT, he couldn't even see THAT anymore because so much snow had fallen on top of it.

huh. My mind goes in funny places. So, I ask him "how do you suppose you could FIND a snowman who was buried in the snow?"

He gave it great thought before he answered me. "I think I'd better not try. If I tried to dig Frosty out of the snow my shovel might chop one of his balls in half"

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Nancy, what a sweet girl! So we get to name her???

Love Jack. Great story.

Paula, way to go on the loss!!!

Congrats on your loss this week Paula!

Ok longtime runners...does it ever stop hurting? I'm just frustrated today. Got on the treadmill next to two REAL runners (y'know, like you girls!) and who knows how long they had been running, but they never stopped! They ran and ran and ran the whole time I was on the treadmill (30 minutes) and ran FAST. I know I shouldn't compare, but I feel like I'm not really improving much? I only walked for about 3 minutes out of the whole 30, and I still had almost the same pace as the other day. And I was whooped by 2.4 miles. HOW am I ever going to run 13 miles? Any my freaking knees ache like mad now and I'm just pissed that my damn fat body won't do what my mind wants it to. Sigh.

I'm sorry, I'm sure you didn't realize it was pity-party-for-Karen-day!

Karen, oh my word. First, we are not the "Always Happy Thread" or the Naturally skinny Thread. Or the Born Athletic Thread. Oh, no! We ARE the drinking, Disney loving, crazy train thread!

So yeah. Don't be in awe. I am sure not a real runner. I am happy with 15 mm at 6 miles and up. HAPPY. THRILLED.

A runner runs. A mom mothers. A friend listens. When do you become real with any of those? Aren't we all just kids inside who found ourselves past 22 and not sure how or when that happened?

How long have you been drinking the kool aid? (I mean running?)

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Liz, I'm glad to know it's the drinking-Disney loving-crazy train thread b/c I might not fit in otherwise! I've been back to running since December. I feel like I've run more than that though b/c I've gone through periods of running and then stopping when my knees were just too painful. I ran last spring/summer for a while doing couch to 5K (didn't finish) before it got really hot, and before that maybe once a year for the past few years. Like I said though, I kept quitting when I got to about a month or so in b/c of the knee pain. I'm running far more now and I'm dedicated to working through this instead of giving up! But, I guess for all intensive purposes, I'm still a beginner and really have only been running a couple months.

HA! How'd ya like that ramble for such a simple question! Lisa would be proud!

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Karen, you know what I'm saying ...don't apologize. Ever. Well, not for drinking or whining or freaking out or not exercising, or spilling your guts or getting off program or doing GREAT. Not for the good or the bad, that's life. And if nothing we are REAL. Crazy, possibly, undertrained, but real as heck.

(I am SO undertrained, it's not funny!)

Anyway, you're like me. I've been a beginner runner for two years. Oooh, coming up on three! Yes, beginner runner for almost three years. There must be a medal for that!

I think you are doing really well for where you are and you should give yourself credit for that.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Hi. Just heard from Jean. Lisa's surgery went fine. She is doing her exercises and is up and about. And! Her donation seems to be working too. Yay!

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Hi. Just heard from Jean. Lisa's surgery went fine. She is doing her exercises and is up and about. And! Her donation seems to be working too. Yay!

GREAT news!!!! Thank you for letting us know. Love you on here.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Hi. Just heard from Jean. Lisa's surgery went fine. She is doing her exercises and is up and about. And! Her donation seems to be working too. Yay!

SO SO SO HAPPY to hear this! Prayed for her and Nathan all day long!

Love you on here.

I know, right? And the totally ironic part of all of this is that LISA would be flipping out over the Cutie sighting!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Karen/Kat/Liz--there is no one right or wrong way to run. Whatever works. Karen, have you tried Galloway? I would LOVE to do the Galloway method (and Kat...I totally consider that "real" running!). I just can't seem to make it work for me. Like, everything I read says that by doing the Galloway method you actually INCREASE your pace and you basically eliminate injuries. So much better for your body to have the continuous recovery breaks, etc. But my experience has been (1) my running pace stays the same as when I run without walk intervals--so my overall time is slower; and (2) I hurt MORE from the constant transitions between running and walking. Maybe I am doing something wrong or maybe I am just one of the odd few who are not built for the Galloway method.

That being said, Karen--if your knees are bothering you that much, try doing the intervals and see if that reduces the pain.

Another thought--again, surfaces that have some "give" (like a treadmill, the grass, or a real track surface) are supposed to better on your joints...better for your knees and shin splints specifically. Once again, I am the opposite here. My worst ever shin splints came from running on softer surfaces. And my stress fracture came from running on the high school track. Give me asphalt roads or nothing at all! The moral of the story--try different running surfaces and see if you get different results.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Hi. Just heard from Jean. Lisa's surgery went fine. She is doing her exercises and is up and about. And! Her donation seems to be working too. Yay!

So happy to hear she is doing well.
Send her my love and hugs
Jo

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Great news about Lisa! Thanks for the update.


I'm taking a much needed day off from the gym today. My body is SORE And my to-do list is overwhelming (surprise, surprise )

 

[SeptemberGirl]

I'm taking a much needed day off from the gym today. My body is SORE And my to-do list is overwhelming (surprise, surprise )

You deserve a day off! I took one yesterday and got a pedicure. My feet look human again. I'll ruin them on the TM at 5pm, but that's okay!

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I took yesterday as a rest day also. I plan for treadmill after wor?k
My toes however are scheduled for next Sunday so they are pretty for WDW