Dear Runners,

I suck. My lazy ass has barely made it out the door at all this week, except to take out the trash and go buy more Diet Coke (and go to class and work and the library and a whole host of other errands, but we're going for melodrama, so this can all be ignored). Even the thought of a Thanksgiving race has not spurred me on to great athletic feats--bravely toughing out my ten mile runs--or even small whimpering protests of athletic potential, such as taking the stairs to my fourth floor math class. Nope, I suck.

Naturally, all of this non-activity has stirred up some dark thoughts: will all of my marathon fitness go away? Will my zest for all things running ever come back? Why is my ass expanding at such an unprecedented rate? (That one wasn't too hard to figure out--eating like a marathoner without actually running will do that to a girl) I wistfully thought of mile 13 of my marathon 3 weeks ago (take a picture kids, you'll never see me longing for mile 13 of anything. Ever. Again.) where I realized that I was only a few minutes shy of my half marathon PR and was feeling Particularly Fabulous. That was a good feeling--knowing that I was so awesome, that I could have smoked my PR if I wanted to. Which I think is just the feeling I need to recapture my near-maniacal enthusiasm for tripping over roots and practically bathing in GU.

So in March, I'm going back to DC, to the site of my half marathon PR. I'm writing this entry because I want to be held accountable, and because I want you guys to know first:

I'm running the SunTrust National Half on 20 March 2010, and I'm going sub-2 hours. Suck it, laziness!

I went to a free physical therapy clinic hosted by Probility Physical Therapy and Running Fit after work today. My knee is still swollen after 3 days of icing it and staying off of it. As I was considering making a doctors appointment, and cancelling it if it got better before then, I remembered about these clinics and it just so happened that today is the 2nd Wednesday of the month when they do it! Yeah!!

He couldn't be completely sure what is wrong with it but he looked it over and bent, twisted, and stretched things in every which-way. It is definitely swollen around the whole kneecap and he thought I may have done something not-too-serious to the miniscus like bruised it, and also that the fat pad is swollen. He didn't think it was serious and that it can probably be self-corrected, which is good.

Anyway he told me to stretch and ice massage it, stick to cross-training for a few days, and then try running. Start with 2 miles... once I have a successful 2 miles... get another successful 2 miles before increasing to 2.5 or 3. Sigh. Guess I will have to ditch my 5K training program until this gets better and just hope it is sooner rather than longer.


It also has me rethinking my plan of running a marathon in the spring. I am THIRSTING to run another marathon. But it would probably be good for me to run a couple of halves first. I could start training for a half after my 5K on Dec. 5th, and just train distance. Then train for another one, having the distance base, and work on speed, and THEN do my next marathon. I was really excited for the next full distance though, ya know? But it may be time to look at some revised plans.

And then I guess my next thing would be asking for suggestions of training plans for a half that do not involve speedwork but are not purely for a first-time runner? I have run 2 half marathons and a full. I'd like the plan to have 5 days of running but little to no speedwork. Suggestions?

Anyone say, screw it, just run a full? :) (Patience is a virtue... which I use frequently in teaching and lack in the rest of my life...)

Having fun and taking on a relaxed attitude was the name of the game for my Indianapolis Monumental Marathon weekend. After all, I already earned my Boston Qualifying time four weekends ago, so what else did I have to prove? ( Read more )

On Saturday the 14th at 4AM UTC/GMT we will be upgrading the operating system of our network load balancers to a newer version, one that will allow us to use both CPUs! Nifty, because multiprocessing is nice.

Since we have 2 load balancers, the plan is to upgrade 1 at a time, and there really should be very little impact to our website. Hopefully you won't notice a thing and I'll get to go back to the hotel and watch some wonderful late night infomercials.

We've got a lot of exciting projects coming up for 2010 and we're hoping that we'll be able to deliver them all to you, that you will find it useful/cool/lovely and then you will use the site even more. Behind-the-scenes work like this will give us the capacity to handle the anticipated traffic, so expect a few more maintenance windows especially in the beginning of next year as we've got some neat ideas to improve performance around here! We had the recent 30-45 minute outage yesterday due to one of our logging databases filling up disk space -- not so great design coupled with my human error in handling the initial problem -- and it looks like we're going to finally have some resources to eliminate stuff like that. I can't wait!

As usual, I will be updating status.livejournal.org before and after, just in case you are not able to reach our main website during the work.

Anyone else starting LA Marathon training soon? I'm excited about the new City-to-the-Sea course! The new course ends right near my house, so I had even more reason not to turn it down. :) I just set up my skeleton outline of my training plan for the race.

Good Luck, Angelenos.

I've been MIA since I ran the Chicago Marathon (most amazing and painful expereince ever) because that same night I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my tibia--really high up, practically by the knee, and have been pretty down in the dumps about it. I finished the marathon--barely, but after training so hard I couldn't give up. I've been on crutches and finally got the ok a couple weeks ago to bike if it didn't cause pain. Well, that caused pain and just this week I've noticed that I can put some weight on it and not have it hurt. So I'm planning on trying the bike thing tomorrow. It's crazy how much muscle I've lost in my leg though. It's significantly thinner and less defined which is pretty sad. I have another doctors appointment this coming Tuesday and am hoping to get rid of these wretched crutches at the time. Any suggestions for how to ease back into running? I'm sure he'll give me some tips but is it going to be mainly walking for the first few months or can I expect any running mixed in? I guess the majority of my cardio will be on a bike? I'm not a big gym person so I have no idea what to do. Any suggestions or personal anecdotes would be helpful. I hope you all have been enjoying some beautiful fall weather. St. Louis has been gorgeous this November and I'm dying to get back outside to at least walk around.

Okay runners, please help me! I have been dealing with knee and IT band related issues since the summer. What first began as "Runner's Knee" morphed into "ITBS" after four weeks of PT and a follow-up visit to an Ortho. I had an MRI - no tears or anything anywhere in my knee.

I haven't run in months. For that matter, I haven't done much of anything lower-body related in just about as long. I feel better with rest, and then as soon as I try to do anything (leg presses, squats, eliptical, etc.) the pain comes back.

I am out of PT visits through my insurance company and I am desperate for things I can do at home. I have a foam roller, but I can't even lean against it - the pain is so bad. I've been stretching, trying to massage out any kinks, and icing. Aside from this, have any of you found any other helpful remedies for dealing with ITBS? I was thinking about buying a Patt Strap, but that's entirely on my own accord.

Needless to say I'm quite frustrated and would appreciate any firsthand experiences or words of advice you have. Thank you!

Good morning, runners! It's Wednesday, so we're halfway there.

What's everyone up to today? I did a workout yesterday (3x800 at goal 6k race pace with 200 jog, 10 minutes tempo, and 4x200 with 200 jog) on the grass that left me feeling very good about my fitness and my big race on Saturday. Today will be a recovery day.

Yesterday I had you all write down two truths and a lie. Today, explain 'em.... and happy running!
( (Here's mine...) )

I pushed myself a little harder on my 2 mi run today and managed to hit 1.5 at 14 min! And finished up at 19 minutes instead of my standard 20 :) I'm slowly improving.

Any other success stories out there?

hey guys,

I just worked out with one of my friends who does powerlifting.  I have never done squats before so when we got to them we had to start with basics.  Well, I'm not flexible enough to get that low and keep my balance.  or maybe my balance is too bad.  either way, I can't do them.  He laughed at me and said "squats are great for runners!"

1) are squats great for runners?

2) am i the only one out there that can't even sit with their legs straight out and their back straight (ie, my back can't get perpendicular to the ground if my legs are out in front of me). 

Any negative issues that will arise from me being horribly tight?

I went for a run this morning.

As in, I woke up extra early and ran BEFORE work. Let it be known, I have never  been a morning person. But the thought of running in the dark on sidewalks is depressing. I find the cars distracting and prefer running in the park, which is dangerous and poorly lit at night. Plus, it's more difficult to get my butt outside when it's dark than in the sunny morning.

I know this morning was my first, but I may be a convert already. The first mile was rough - I kept telling myself death would be better than running at this ungodly hour. But eventually I switched to reggae on my Nano, found a groove and started enjoying the morning sights and sounds - other runners and walkers, fresh sunlight, hungry squirrels and ducks. It was an exhilirating way to wake up. Since I was already alert by the time I showered and dressed, I got ready faster and had extra time to check my email and make breakfast.

Most importantly, all I have to do for the rest of the day is get through work and then relax. And maybe take time to ENJOY cooking dinner.

For anyone who has scoffed at the morning run, you can do it!

I'll be in Baltimore at the Hyatt on Light Street for the next few days for work. Any good recommendations for runs in that area and the safety factor for running in the early morning or evening?

Interesting article in the NY Times.

http://ethicist.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/are-high-tech-prostheses-fair/

Good morning, runners! Super cute guest host hbfs here again to fill in for supermanz.

What's everyone up to today? I have class, am epic laundry/room excavation project, and practice, which is going to be some kind of taper-friendly light workout. We're getting ready for NCAA DIII Mideast Regionals on Saturday :)

In lieu of a question today, I thought it'd be fun to play a game. So this is Two Truths and a Lie. In your comment, post two things that are true about you and one equally-credible looking lie (or two equally incredible truths and one lie). And then we'll guess which one's the lie :)

Here are mine:
1. When I was 17, I played a munchkin in a community production of The Wizard of Oz. (TRUE!)
2. I once climbed through an open window of a locked building in order to skinny dip in a fountain. (ALSO TRUE. I've skinny dipped in more than one fountain, too.)
3. I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 18 years old. (False! I was almost 18, though - it was November of my senior year.)

Here's a few more sets of two more truths and a lie:
1. In high school, a lot of people knew me by the nickname "Barn"
2. I am addicted to coffee
3. I've kept the same running long since 3-12-2002

1. I'm left-handed
2. I read Gone With The Wind in less than four days
3. I have a phobia of escalators

Running enthusiasts, I wish to ask you something.

Let's say you have a friend or an acquaintance, someone who says they want to learn to love to run but can't get over the physical hump of being out-of-shape, on top of bad Fun Run memories from high school and middle school. They don't necessarily dislike running but just can't get into it and get themselves to do it often enough TO get into it.

What advice do you have for wannabes? How would you encourage them or help them adjust to the runner's lifestyle?

okay so heres the story
its long because it actually is dammit!! haha
anyway
7th grade i started having knee problems with my right knee - over time it wound up being in both knees
a feeling of INCREDIBLE pressure right beneath my knee cap (by beneath i mean the gooshy part between my knee cap and top of my shin bone) and pain when moving it (i can feel a slight popping)
over the next 5 years i went tomultiple doctors and specialists and here are some of the prognosees:

"you need physical therapy"
"its patella tendonitis - just rest"
"your faking it"
"the fat pat under you knee swells when you work out - ice it"
"your quads arent strong enough in the right places"
"knee cap out of alignment"
"too much unchecked swelling lets try a cortizone shot"
"im all out of options lets go in and check surgically" <--- yep i got surgery

about a year ago on my right knee they went in and looked around cleaned out some gook and ultimately found out that my meniscus was fraying and probably had been over the past 5 years
this was a year ago and ive been FINE - recovered in about 3 months, ran indoors and outdoors BOTH hurdles! and up until tonight have had NO PAIN

the pain that is back tonight is in my OTHER knee which is also a previous victim of this weird ailment
its not meniscus this time unless its causeing the REST of my knee to swell without it actually hurting
all i know right now is that this specific pain has yet to be diagnosed and no matter whether im moving or sitting/laying still the pain persists
ive iced it, taken meds, etc its always follwed in my right knees footsteps so i dont know if it ALSO needs cleaning out but my right knee is fine no problems at all (good news!) i just dont want to get ANOTHER surgery even if it helps
but this pain is SO crippling and so sudden im concerned
im going to go to the school trainers tomorrow and be like look dont give me that "tendonitis" bull shit i KNOW its not that fake disease :P

my only other observation was that i was having some discomfort when pivoting doing drills today at track
i guess we'll see but if anyone else has any ideas or suggestions
im ALL ears id rather hear from people with experience than doctors who make me pay THOUSANDS of dollars for unsuccessful tests and remedies and a 15 minute session in which they just tell me to rest

hope everyones having a bettter night than i am!
x0 maddie

ps sorry about the length :[

Hello everyone!

Quick update before my question: I've been running longer distances lately. 4.6 yesterday (in 2.3 mile intervals to my friends house and back). I found this great site with a training schedule including push ups and curl ups to prepare me for bootcamp. Still no shipdate, but I take the DLAB on Thursday. I am so impatient!

My question is what are your opinions on running with weights? My friend gave me some gloves with weights to increase arm muscle while running since I love to run and hate the rest, but I'm not sure if they are safe or if it is a good idea. Is there any danger or something that I should know about?

Thanks!
-Jay

I did complete the Denver Half Marathon three weeks ago. It was far from a stellar performance. After I asked about my last long run on, what, 10/1/09, I did a 7-miler that day and promptly ended up horrendously ill that weekend and still don't remember the vast majority of the next 10 days or so. After 10/1/09 I didn't run again until 4 days before the race and that was a really good 5-miler. Mom and I survived the half, though.

I did have to walk some of it after twisting my ankle at the beginning of mile 10. It scared me so badly that I started hyperventilating and couldn't breathe. It was awful so I walked a bit. I did meet my time goal, so I was content with that. Were I to be here again next year, the race would be way different as Rock N Roll bought the series. The expo sucked...I mean really SUCKED.

At any rate, I then took two weeks off. I had exams, a trip back to Michigan to visit my grandmother (non-Hodgkins lymphoma and just moved into assisted living and was asking for me) and life got crazy. Did a 6-mile race on 1 November. AWFUL...only words to describe it. Between two weeks of no running and then to discover it was a mountain trail race...yea, did not go very well at all.

Been running about every other day since then. Racing 7 miles this weekend...another trail race but it's not on a mountain side this time. heh

My plan is to keep up my mileage. It'll help with winter doldrums and the stress of school as I enter the final 3 weeks of the semester. I do have races scheduled all the way through the end of February so that will help, too.

At any rate, I'm here and still running.

I'm just starting marathon training now (for next April - Shakespeare Marathon, Stratford, UK) as some of you probably know and I have decided to try a more formal approach rather than the mile gathering I've done in the past.

I have a SmartCoach program from Runners World but being a bit of a 'lazy' runner in training, I've never done speed work or 'tempo' runs as just couldn't be bothered with the faff!! LOL!
So my question is a bit naieve! It says I am to do a 7 mile with 4 mile @6:32 (ie race pace) 
 
Should I be aiming to do this on a flat, lap type circuit or my normal 7 mile route with hills etc?!

Secondly, all my days training (including long run) are at the same pace initially of 7:48 a mile. Whilst this isn't a hassle or too hard really, I always believed that one or more of my days a week training (5 out of 7 per usual) should be at a considerably slower, almost recovery pace. Perhaps nearer 8:15-8:30??

Anyone got any thoughts? Glad to hear them! Thanks all!

I've been in a motivational slump, but today - encouraged by a 5.2km I registered to run on Thursday night - a friend and I decided to hit my local run spot for 4.4k of huffing and puffing.

Got up at 5am, she sent me a text 15 minutes later telling me she's on her way. We met in the carpark and got going. About 1km in it started to rain, we considered stopping after lap one but through stupidity or in the hope of the 'running high' we kept going... through the rain.. it was nice, really. Hydrating by absorption - hah. We were about 300m from the car park when we noticed one of the most spectacular rainbows that either of us (or the other runners on the track) had seen.
You could see where it started and where it ended (GOLD GOLD GOLD!!) it was vibrant and just beautiful.
If that wasn't reward enough for my run this morning, I don't know what was.