Coming Back From Injury and Getting Back to Business

The first snow fall of the year came about this weekend.  I must say that I am not too thrilled about it.  Five weeks ago today, I injured my ankle tearing some ligaments and have yet to run since.  Each day that goes by there is not a doubt in my mind that my ankle is progressing.  However, the loss of the last few weeks has led to there being no more nice days to go running in this year.  I feel I have ran my last outdoor run for the season already.  Running in the cold?  It is just not for me.  Not at all.

The past five weeks have become been full of much self reflection.  Finishing the marathon was such a great feeling.  All the training and work that had been done over the past few years finally paid off when I crossed that finish line.  Barely a full week later I end up injuring myself and lose all ability to run.  It has been very hard to keep myself physically on track.  My eating has become really sparratic as I have been finding without running, I can't take in the same amount of calories.

Going to the gym has also been a bear.  I have been going very often between three and four times each week.  Up to last week I would take my walking boot off and wrap up my ankle tight in a brace allowing my to bike and do some basic abs.  I have gotten rid of the boot this week but am still only doing the same basic workouts with some upper body lifting here or there.  Without running, working out has become very difficult to get through.  It takes a bunch of mental effort to stay and do a certain workout.

Not to mention this weekend was Thanksgiving.  Just to show the dangers of the evening, this is my making of pumpkin pie...


Over the weeks, I have tried to say get back to working out properly and eating well.  It has been difficult.  Well no more!  Tomorrow is my new start and I am trying to bring everything back that kept me going before.  So here I am blogging again!

It is currently after midnight on a school night when I just cant seem to fall asleep.  Class is only a few hours away but I have been mulling over this new workout schedule.  After talking to my friend Brok, I have a new workout schedule to follow each day.  The exercises are mostly for muscle toning with no running.  To the end of the workouts, I have added 20 minute cool downs and one hour cardio sessions on the weekends.  Currently, these are going to be biking, but my hope is that within the month to change a few of the days to running.

Here is the link to my new routine

Also on the page are my new calorie intake numbers.  I used to use My Fitness Pal all the time leading up to the marathon.  I am going to get back to it.  The one goal that I would like to accomplish currently is to get my body fat percentage to single digits (9.9% is acceptable).  The week I ran the  Baltimore Marathon, my BFP was 14.8%.  If I had to guess, my current number is maybe 1-1.5% higher.  Through the loss of some fat and an addition of lean muscle, I hope to achieve this.  Tomorrow I am going to get my BFP from the gym when I go so I have a starting point.

The Cleveland Marathon is on my mind still... my arch nemesis.

As I sit here, I started to count up weeks.  In order to run the Cleveland Marathon, I am going to give myself 15 weeks of training.  Counting backwards from May 19th, I have assumed my start date will be February 3rd, the first full week in the month.

This means that starting tomorrow, I am going to give myself nine weeks on this new schedule.  I hope that the tenth week will be a time where I can rest in preparation for the new heavy running training.  I have my new schedule, my new eating habits are about to be wonderful and in check, and tomorrow is a new day.  The next month will be a great closing to a wonderfully progressive year with a strong December.  Beginning the new year in January with the second half of this new schedule will help me show myself where I want to be headed physically throughout the year.

Stay tuned for my new updates on route to a fitter self (9.9% in 9 weeks? maybe so!) and my tackling of the Cleveland Marathon once and for all.

Stay classy Cleveland, Ohio!

Baltimore Marathon Recap

Sorry about the long delay, I was waiting for some pictures to add to the blogpost... but it has arrived!  My recap of the Baltimore Marathon!  I just want to start by saying 'I did it! AND I beat my goal time!'

For the past couple years I have been preparing to complete my first marathon.  Through good times and bad times, I pushed through.  To throw a cliche out there, the third time is the charm.  Two years ago I didn't even make it to the Cleveland Marathon starting line due to injury.  This past year I gave out at mile 23 in the Cleveland Marathon.  For the third try, after months of great training, I completed the Baltimore Marathon in 3:28:12!

This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done.  I found out that I can train all that is necessary but without the mental desire to push through to the end, I would not have completed.  The pre-race fiasco was a little over the top.  I arrived with Judy in downtown Baltimore at 7:30 for the 8:00 am race only to find that it was a mess.  All the parking lots were full, traffic, and the people directing traffic had no idea where to send people to park.  By 7:45, we parked in a random lot and rushed over to the course. 

It was a cold day but that is just my opinion, the temperature was around 45-55 all day.  For the first few miles I ran with the 3:30 pace group.  It was going well from the start and I ended up finding myself around mile 4 pulling away from the pace group.  Up until mile 17, I continued to knock out 7:20-7:30 mile times.  At the half mark I was at 1:40.  This was good and bad, the bad was that the half marathon was on a staggered start and was set to begin at 9:45... 5 minutes after I ran past the start line again (the course was in a figure 8 in a way).

 

Baltimore is a very, very, rolling hills course.  The beginning and end are nearly strait up hill.  Everyone I talked to had said to be sure to save myself for mile 19... mile 19... over and over it came up. Well... mile 19 is when it got to be really hard.  I started to fell it and slow down slightly going up all the hills.  By mile 21-22, the course loops around a lake and it is quite flat... but after that it is again up hill and then downhill for the final couple miles. 

Again at mile 22 I had to walk for a few seconds.  My body was hurting, I was tired and I didn't know if I could go on.  It wasn't 10 seconds after I walked that someone tapped me on the shoulder and said 'Lets go, you're almost there'.  I took that to heart and at least pushed the next half mile to the water stop.  This is where the race got hard, all mental.  I walked the entire mile 22ish water stop.  By the end of the stop I told myself I have to push on no matter how slow, but run.  A half mile down the road I saw my Aunt Julia waiting and cheering me on!  It was a good boost.

At mile 23, I came across someone struggling too.  I started to talk to him and he asked if this was my first marathon.  I told him I tried the Cleveland in May, but only made it to mile 23.  I had just crossed to the farthest I had been and was still pushing forward.  I tried to get him to run with me to the end, but around 100 yards later, he had to stop.  I pushed on, still running at a high 8 minute pace. 

There are few accomplishments in life that I feel truly happy about but this is one of them.  Months of training started to come back to my mind as I pushed forward in the race.  I kept saying to just get to the next mile marker: 24, then 25.  I realized I was going to make it! 

For the last mile, I had a great time.  I started to think back to when I was 285.  Back to when Ronjon and I would meet at the rec center and run in my final semester of college.  Losing 30 lbs by the end of the semester.  Continuing to run and lose weight.  Running my first race, a 5k in the middle of winter and finishing in 22:12.  Going to Israel and running on the shores of the Mediterranean at sunrise early in the morning.  Running 3 different 10k races in Israel (all some how at the same time but learning to prepare correctly).  DNF at the Cleveland Marathon... Losing 100 lbs total... and then soon to cross the finish line at the Baltimore Marathon.

The course was very lackluster.  Supposidly we ran through the zoo, but it was quick and only a couple birds were shown.  There was a few miles with different themes but I never saw them.  The people made the race great, tons of fans all throughout the course.  This was really evident at the end.  The final mile was packed full of people cheering.  I was wearing my Cleveland Marathon shirt and was pushed along by constant cheers for Cleveland! 

After mile 26, the race turns into Camden Yards.  All the cheering goes away and for just over 100 yards, you run in near silence (or maybe I just tuned everything out).  It was great as there were onyl a few people around me and I could really reflect on my accomplishment.  I crossed the finish line in 3:28:12.  Fist pumping across the line (and my arm cramped).


Too tired to smile

I want to also thank Judy for coming out!  Getting a kiss for motivation throughout different spots in the course was very helpful.  Having a fan cheering was great! I love you Judy!



I am already planning on signing up for the Cleveland Marathon in May and am hoping to train to BQ.  I think I can do it!  In addition I am trying to figure out what to train for over the winter months in a gym.  I would like to run an early race in Feb/Mar and PR.  Whether it is a 16:30 5k, 36:00 10, or 1:30 half is up to debate currently.

This past weekend, I didn't take it easy and ended up pushing my body too far post race.  I really hurt my ankle and am out of running for a few weeks at least.  I can use this time to recuperate but am already missing working out. 


Thanks for all the support everyone!

Well... all that is left...

It is a cold and blistery day in my opinion here in Cleveland.  I have completed everything I can in preparation for the Baltimore Marathon.  All that is left at this point is to get to the starting line and then to the finish line.  All week I have been very upbeat and confident about completing this marathon.  I woke up today a little groggy and have been very nervous and thinking about it all day.  This is now my third attempt at a marathon and I can't get out of my head the results of the first two.  I know I will have a great run tomorrow but getting to there will be difficult.

The Baltimore Marathon pacers make this marathon seem like a blast.  They have been very nice and helpful on facebook and have posted this video about the race:

They seem like a really great bunch and I can't wait to go running with them.

I am all packed and about to drive out to Baltimore.  I should have a lot more to say the day before the big race but I cant really bring myself to words quite yet.

Wish me luck!

Less Than A Week To Go

Oh Cleveland, this is the time of year that I am not a proud resident of this area.  It has been a cold and blistery few days and it has 'somewhat' impeded on my running.  Granted I only missed one run this week and it was a taper run, I think I will be fine.  I plan on running once on maybe Monday and once on Wednesday, both real short runs just to keep my head in the game.  For the most part, I wanted to come here and reflect a little bit on the current situation.

To start on a positive note, I am very excited for this marathon.  I believe that with the Cleveland Marathon back in May, I was just not ready for it on any level.  Heading to Oklahoma for a wedding mixed in with an injury threw off my training for four of the final six weeks.  When the marathon finally came around, I was just not physically nor mentally prepared for it.  The biggest memory I have from that day was running and even as soon as mile 8 wondering to myself 'Why am I even doing this?'

However, for the Baltimore Marathon, I feel I am heading in a completely different direction.  I completed two long runs of 21 miles in preparation and feel that in my current state I have the ability to wake up and say 'why not run 21 miles today?' and just do it.  I am excited for the marathon too.  Recently I broke the 100 lb weight mark while training for this marathon as I reached 185 lbs.  It has been quite a journey but I have reached a mile stone that I feel is the biggest motivator I have for crossing that finish line next Saturday.  I know I previously said I wanted to be 175 by race day, but that was a little ambitious.  I am at a point where weight loss is EXTREMELY difficult and maybe even unneeded.  After the marathon, I plan on spending the winter putting on some light muscle and working towards winning a 5k (made a new PR of 18:00 a couple weeks ago too!)

I am heading into this final week of 'training' however there is very little actual training to be done.  The more I think about it, the more I realize that it truly is a process to run a marathon.  Over four months previous to the actual run, training begins.  There are ups and downs, but all come together to be part of such a growing process and realization of what someone with a little determination can truly accomplish.

Regardless of how the run unfolds on Saturday, I am very happy with the progress I have made over the last couple years.  I have changed myself and my lifestyle and hope to continue heading in the right direction.  Saturday just turns into another milestone and marker down my path.  Where will I end up?  Maybe running a sub 17 minute 5k?  Maybe qualifying for Baltimore?  At this point, I feel I have the ability to push myself to accomplish anything I want to, even before running the marathon.  This is not to be an 'ego' situation, but more so that through the training and hard work there is a realization that the road to get somewhere is 99% of the battle.

The Last Hard Day of Work

This past week was an up and down time of training.  After running 21 miles a couple weeks ago, my body was in no mood to continue running again.  This came into true fruition after I ran only two times last week, both five mile runs.   However, I was preparing for a 5k on Saturday which went really well.

A quick race recap:
The day was cold and it was raining all evening the night before causing the trail to be very slipper and full of leaves.  It seemed like it was going to be a slow race and I would just give it my best.  With my lack of warming up as usual, I walked...shivering... to the starting line.  At the very last second I decided not to go with my headphones and handed them off.

With the start of the race we had to make a 180 turn which caused a big slow down in addition to every turn needing to be taken slowly for fear of falling.  I started out in second after 100 yards and was quickly passed by a teen running in 5 fingers.  This is basically how the race progressed till the end.  I was around 50 meters from second the entire time while the guy in first really took off. 

I was hoping to finish around 19:00 to improve on my last 5k time.  I came around the final turn realizing that I had a chance to break 18:00!  However I was unable to do so but still finished in 18:01!  I received a trophy for finishing 3rd overall!  So many new PR's and records and just a great time!

After the 5k and frisbee Sunday, I had very little interest in running the 21 I was supposed to over the weekend.  I had thought to myself that with the last 21 I ran, I could get away with skipping this one.  I decided to research it on Monday after my class before I went on a basic run and came across a good quote about the final long run. 'This is the last day you will have to work hard until marathon day'.  Taking this to heart, I tied on my shoes and left to run 21 miles.

The first half was okay, a little over marathon pace coming in a 1:26 (2 minutes above).  The second half I really pushed myself and just kept on saying 'last day to work hard'.  I finished the second half in 1:20 (4 minutes before pace).  I felt great! Tired! and Great!

I feel that I am heading into the marathon now as prepared as I could ever be.  Basically through the soreness and all I am at a point where I could just say, 'you know, why dont I run 21 miles today?' and just go do it!

Less than 3 weeks to the marathon, pushing forward.  Its all downhill from here.

Five Goals To Marathon Day

One thing I have prided myself on for some time has been my goal oriented self.  I carry around a goal sheet in my wallet for the past few years of long term goals I have wanted to accomplish.  Out of the 10, I am very proud and happy to say I have 3ish to go (ish... maybe will explain at a later point).  In preparation for the Baltimore Marathon in just over 30 days, I have thought about what it means to me and what I want to accomplish.

With this, I came up with five goals I want to accomplish by the end of the Baltimore Marathon.  Again with my same goal regulations of they have to be tangibly attainable goals, not 'moral' goals.

1. Eat well for 30 days up to the marathon.

Yea, yea, some days I eat well... but honestly most days I tend to drift the other way.  All the running I do helps maintain my weight though which is good and I am happy to say I am yet to put on weight.  I read a fair amount into how eating well allows better running and overall fitness.  I want to be as fit as I can come marathon day and so leading up to the marathon I will take care of my body food wise for 30 days real well.

2. Race day weight of 175
This is the loftiest goal out of the five.  It means losing around 10 lbs which I believe is possible.  Especially with eating well and taking care of myself for 30 days I think it is going to happen.  It will be super hard but if it wasn't hard, what would be the point?  Having a lighter race day weight will also make it easier to run and again, I want to be in super duper shape.  It is possible!

3. Run one 5k race previous to the marathon
I haven't had a chance to run any of the races I planned to heading up to the marathon.  I really enjoy the races and miss them.  In an attempt to really work on this one, I am already signed up for the Shaker Nature Center 5k on the 24th I believe, next Saturday.  If all goes well, I want to break 20 minutes again... maybe even 19:00.

4. Do 30 strait pushpins
If there is one thing I lack at, it is upper body strength.  Since I started my run training, I have really lacked in the muscle toning.  If every day I work on some abs and push-ups, I think no problem I can hit 30 push-ups in a row after 30 days.  I can also work on some new exercises for my app development... more on that in the future...

5. Finish the Baltimore Marathon
I was originally thinking finish the marathon sub 3:30... but that was my goal for the Cleveland Marathon and I know how that ended up... I will start with just the ideal of finishing a marathon, and I WILL.

Anyone else really goal oriented?  Any goals they want to share?

45 Days and Counting

Today marked 45 days and counting until the Baltimore Marathon.  This was quite the eventful week for me too in regards to that.  For the second strait week, I had a very good week of running.  I ran 44 total miles and my 7 mile time was one of my best ever (I almost beat it today, but slowed up between miles 3-4).  Even my long run of 17 miles was ran below my marathon goal pace.

This all led me to officially signing up for the Baltimore Marathon.  This past week I registered, sent in my shirt size and am gearing up to go.  I would like to thank my mom for taking care of the registration as my birthday gift.  I look forward to using it to finish my first marathon.

School has started this week causing life to need a little balancing.  With all the classes I am taking and all the driving (out to Orrville, OH twice a week), it is going to take me a few days to figure out a new routine.  I didn't run the first two days this week but was resting Monday and just didn't find the time or energy to do it yesterday.  Today I pushed out my 7 miles and think I may need to start running mid day.  Going to have to start bearing with the heat! Haha, just kidding, its CLEVELAND!  The mid day temps are already not bad at all.

As I am here eating my hearty salad for lunch, I figure with 45 days to go, 'Lets see what I can do'.  I have already beyond surprised myself at my new fitness and running ability/passion.  I wonder with 45 days of being super good with eating and running, what pre-race fitness level could I attain?  Judy has been strong with me while kicking sugar to the road for 30 days and that is half way through.  This wont be too hard to add to it?  Will it?