Olympics & winter training at its worst

Tomorrow I head to Hyannis for the Hyannis Half Marathon.  This will be my fourth appearance at this race, so I'm pretty excited to carry on the tradition for another year!  Training for it has been a bit of a challenge, but with several 10-11 mile runs under my belt at this point, I think I'll be okay.  My plan is to take it easy and treat it as a training run, and most importantly to just have fun!  I'm thrilled but skeptical to hear that the weather is actually looking promising: 40 degrees and sunny.  This breaks Hyannis tradition of reliably crappy weather, so I'm curious what rogue storm will blow in and surprise us!

Did I mention weather, and how challenging training has been?  There have been snowstorms every other day it seems, and it's really made my training a challenge.  I've missed several runs in the last couple of weeks due to weather.  I hate to seem like I'm making excuses, because I know so many other people that have still managed to get out in the dark, the cold, the ice, the snow, and yet for one reason or another I just can't do it.  At least the good news is I've gotten in a ton of snowshoeing, which is excellent cross training!  Every time I snowshoe in the deep snow I can feel it in my hip flexors and glutes, and that's exactly where I get sore after long runs.  I'm not a fan of snow, but I may as well take advantage of it while I can!

With Jackie!

Mom sporting the vintage shoes!

I'm not totally full of excuses.  I did make several attempts to get my runs in on the treadmill at the gym.  I ran into some problems here too though!  Sunday I got to the gym an hour or so before it closed, figuring I could get in 6-8 miles on the treadmill.  There's a 30 minute limit on the treadmill but I figured no one's going to be at the gym right before it closes on a Sunday.  Right?  Wrong.  While I'm running, suddenly everyone wanted a treadmill and when the line was 4 deep waiting for a machine, I finally relented and jumped off.  I only ended up getting in 4 miles.  On Monday morning I went back to the gym, swam in the pool, and then changed to run on the treadmill.  They were all taken and several people were in line waiting.  I waited as long as I could, but had an appointment and ended up having to leave without even running.  Any idea how frustrating that is?  For me, it was frustrating enough that after my appointment, I went straight to Sports Authority and bought a treadmill.  No joke.  It got delivered yesterday, and I splurged for the $70 assembly fee.  By 5PM last night, my treadmill was all set up and begging to be used!

I don't know why there's a sombrero in the corner.  Now I feel compelled to wear it.

It's super fancy too.  I didn't really need a lot of bells and whistles but they sure are nice to have!  This one has a built in fan, iPod connector, and a huge speaker.  It also has "quick speed" buttons that are very convenient, to instantly bump you to a different speed without having to continuously press the increase/decrease button.

I know everyone complains about the agonizing runs on the "dreadmill", but I couldn't be happier with my decision to buy this.  Having this treadmill just lifted a huge stress off my shoulders.  I never have to worry about it being too cold, icy, dark, early, late, or hot to run, and I don't have to stress over not getting enough time on one of the treadmills at the gym.  I finally turned the tables, and took control over something that has been getting out of my control.  I ran 4 miles last night and 3 today, and I feel spoiled running on such a nice machine!

I've really enjoyed watching the Olympics this year, despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of snow.  These athletes are amazing to watch, and it's awesome seeing all the countries competing peacefully against each other.  I love watching the back stories about the athletes, hearing about how many of them have had to overcome serious obstacles to reach their goals.  It's inspiring, seeing all the work they've put into their training throughout the year, so that on race day they make it look easy.  That translates well into marathon and triathlon training!  My favorite sports to watch are the snowboarding events.  It's so exciting seeing all their tricks, but it's a dangerous sport.  I'm not talking about for the snowboarders.  I'm talking about for me, running on a treadmill, watching the snowboarders.  I get so into it, I'm running on the treadmill, I'm dropping my shoulder, I'm tucking my elbow, I'm rotating, and before I know it I'm tripping myself and nearly corking myself right off the side of the treadmill.

And finally, in my last blog post I mentioned how I signed up for the cycling program Torture Trainer Road.  After re-doing the 8 minute test with the power meter set up, my FTP (cycling term meaning functional threshold power) was reduced from the default 200 down to 146.  I think I should have been depressed about this, but I was delighted, because it meant they would scale my workouts down accordingly!  My triathlon training program (I know, I still owe you a post on this) calls for some pretty high volume cycling each week, so I'm thrilled to have this software kicking me into gear.  I'm pretty certain there's no way I'd be completing 60-90 minute trainer rides without it!  Here's what a completed workout looks like on Trainer Road:

Tough stuff

In other completely unrelated news, I got new glasses!  I ordered them through Warby Parker.  I really like this company, because for every pair of glasses they sell, they donate another pair, and the prices are very reasonable.  They even have a home try on service, where they'll send you five frames to try on and return.  I'm a big fan!

Stay tuned for next week's blog post, where I can tell you once and for all if it's possible to train for a half marathon almost exclusively through snowshoeing and cycling!

Don't Ask Me...

Over the last few days I've made a few teeny weenie mistakes, all of which were harmless and only result in some good entertainment.  I've never claimed to be an expert of any kind, so if you ever think of coming to me for advice... don't say I didn't warn you.

Don't ask me how long it takes to ride a bike for 8 minutes.  Okay let me back up a bit.  Last month I joined a triathlon club, MRA Multisport.  I know I have a lot to learn and these club members are more than eager to share their expertise.  Trainer Road seems to be the drug of choice... It's a software program for cycling that gathers all of your vital stats to create a personalized workout.  I'm not really a gadget/data junkie, and wasn't planning to participate in this, but supposedly this is the single best way to improve cycling so I figured I'd give it a shot.  Plus, Kristen signed up for it, so that was the kick I needed.  She posted on Facebook about how she completed the 8 minute test, and how difficult and yet awesome it was, and how quickly the time went by.  I mean... I don't want to say anything, but really Kristen, 8 minutes is a very short period of time.  Of course it flew by.
On Saturday I had done my long run (more on that later), so Sunday was going to be an easy day.  I did a yoga workout on my BOSU to get in a lot of stretching, and then decided to finally go for it and sign up for Trainer Road.  Since I have triathlon training starting soon (more on that in a future post) I knew that this program would be ideal to help me conquer those long rides.  And even though this was my rest day, I figured what the heck... it's only 8 minutes.  So, how hard could it be?
Well, I'll tell you.  The 8 minute test is actually an hour long.  I should have investigated this more thoroughly before I started.  I should have noticed something was up when it said to start off lightly spinning for 5 minutes.  As it turns out, it was a series of short sprints, followed by periods of recovery, followed by a series of 8 minute intervals where you are supposed to pedal just about at your maximum effort.  All the while the program is capturing all of your statistics to make it an interactive experience.
It was the hardest "eight minutes" of my life.  The amount of sweat rolling off me was dangerous.  There was sweat on my bike.  On the floor.  On the couch.  On my phone.  On the laptop.  On the cat.  On the TV.
After I finished the workout, I realized I made a fatal error and forgot to set the power meter, which was a critical piece of information it needed to give a complete performance assessment.  So guess what, now I get to take the test again!

Don't ask me how to get to Boston from Hopkinton.  On Sunday, Ronnie was running the marathon route to get in one of his long runs.  He had expected to meet up with other runners on the course but ended up being alone, so he asked me how to get to Boston College from there.  Here's how it went:
Ronnie: Do I just stay on 135 all the way to BC?
Jill: Well no, you stay straight on that road all the way to Newton, pass Newton Wellesley Hospital, go over 95, then when you see a fire house on the right, take that right, and go up Heartbreak Hill which is really only a slight uphill and probably won't really even look like a hill.

Fast Forward 2 hours, Ronnie calls me from the side of the road, lost in Wellesley, who insists he's still on 135 but doesn't think this is the right way.  I pulled up a map and realized he stayed on 135, which took a right, instead of staying straight and merging onto route 16.  Luckily I navigated him back on course, so when he then got lost on Heartbreak Hill, he has only himself to blame.

Don't as me what the current weather conditions are, at this very moment.  Because that would require me to look out a window, and if I had looked out a window before I dressed for my lunch time run, I may have seen the awful road conditions and thought better about heading out.  But once I was outside, in my running clothes, there was no way I was going back in.  Today's 4 mile lunch run was probably the worst road conditions I've ever run in, and I felt like an idiot for being out there.  I'm pretty sure everyone else was calling me an idiot and worse.  At one point a police officer drove by me, and I expected to be pulled over and ticketed for being an idiot.  Cars were sliding and skidding everywhere, and I had zero traction because the roads hadn't been treated yet.  The only cool thing about it was seeing all my foot prints on the way back, and having the nice soft snow to run in was a cool bonus cushion.

Week 7 recap
Staying right on track...
Total miles ran: 19.25 (long run 10.25)
Total miles biked: 27.25
Total yards swam: 1,900 yards
2 Bosu ball workouts

The highlight of this past week was definitely my long 10.25 mile run, which is my longest distance since training began.  It seemed so easy compared to last week's 8 miler!  The coolest thing was when I was running down a side road in Upton, and I passed a lady walking a dog.  As I passed her, she asked me if I was training for the marathon.  "Yes, I AM!" I responded.  She wished me good luck.  That added a little pep in my step!

This week is shaping up to be a bit more of a challenge, trying to squeeze in my runs in between snow storms.  As long as I don't have to do a 12 mile run on the treadmill, I think I'll be okay!

Training weeks 1-6 plus my favorite new toy

It's hard to believe I'm just finishing week 6 of my Boston Marathon training plan.  Maybe it's so hard to believe because I'm not logging nearly the same amount of miles as anyone else, or what I was doing last year at this time.  I'm trying really hard to grow wiser and healthier as I grow older, so I'm sticking to my own modified plan no matter what.  That can be tough to do when I see everyone else logging double digit long runs at this stage, and I'm just squeaking out 8.  I try not to compare myself to my peers so that I won't get discouraged, but it takes a lot of discipline.  With my modified training plan that I created for myself, my longest run will top out at around 16 miles.  This is going to make race day very challenging, but I'm stubborn enough to just gut out the last 10 miles, even if I walk a lot of it.  Maybe I'll stop and have a beer this time with the BC guys.

My training plan is a scaled down version of the Hal Higdon plan, with a few ground rules I set for myself:

• Run every other day whenever possible
• If I have to run back-to-back days, one of those runs must be at a very easy effort
• Try to hit the 10% rule: Increase weekly mileage by 10%
• Don't get caught up in other people's pace or distance
• Don't compare this year to last year
• Cross train
• Cross train
• Cross train

Here's how the last 6 weeks shaped up:
Week 1 total miles:
Run: 5.1 miles (long run 3 miles)
Swim: 450 yards
Bike: 16 miles

Week 2:
Run: 12.64 miles (long run 5 miles)
Swim: 2,600 yards
Bike: 5 miles

Week 3:
Run: 12.7 miles (long run 5 miles)
Swim: 3,800 yards
Bike: 10 miles

Week 4:
Run: 15.5 miles (long run 6.5 miles)
Swim: 1,200 yards
Bike: 0 miles

Week 5: 
Run: 19.2 miles (long run 6.85 miles)
Swim: 900 yards
Bike: 0 miles

Week 6:
Run: 18.2 miles (long run 8.15 miles)
Swim: 1,800 yards
Bike: 13 miles
Strength training: 65 minutes

Next week should be my first week hitting 20 miles, so I'm excited about that.  I need to do a better job of getting in the pool more than once a week, and as you can see I need to spend more time on the bike too.  I did a better job this week of using the weights at the gym, and I just bought myself the best new toy:

Have you ever used a BOSU ball?  This is my favorite new toy.  I used one a long time ago in PT after my hip surgery, and I remember how hard it was to balance on but how rewarding it was once I finally got the hang of it.  There are so many cool exercises to do, and trying to steady yourself on a wobbly surface while doing these exercises is a fun challenge!  I'm obsessed with it, and can't resist jumping on it every time I walk into the TV room.  I did the DVD workout this morning and by the time I was done I looked like I ran 5 miles on the treadmill.  There's a good chance I won't be able to get out of bed in the morning!

Ice Age

We're frigid, people!

This polar vortex has been the talk of the nation, and social media has been all a'twitter about it.  If you want to know the current temperature, look to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and you'll be inundated with dashboard thermometer pictures and weather.com screen shots.  And if you follow a lot of runners, the most common caption is something like, "Nailed my 10 miler in 8 degrees this morning (-25F wind chill)", or "0 degrees is still better than the dreadmill!".  Many of the photos are selfies, to further prove through visual evidence that they were, in fact, running in this frigid weather, and they do, in fact, have icicles hanging from their nose hairs.

I admit it, I posted one of those screen shots of the current temp.  But my caption was something like, "I'm so glad I'm not running today".  Clearly I need to read the Badass Running for Dummies* handbook again.
*This is not a real book. Yet.

Then you have Chicago being renamed "Chiberia", Niagara Falls freezing over, and parts of Minnesota recording temperatures lower than that on Mars (or was it the moon, I dunno...) and it's pretty clear that no matter what temperature you complain about, unless you live in Chicago, Niagara Falls, Minnesota, or Mars, you aren't impressing anyone with your tiny temperature digits.  This polar vortex has created a media frenzy, with endless comparisons to further emphasize the severity of the cold.  I heard that yesterday's temperature in Atlanta (where the summer Olympics were once held) was colder than Sochi, Russia (where this winter's Olympics are taking place).

The good news is the polar vortex has apparently shifted back up to where it belongs, but the bad news is that I'm still freezing.  I contemplated crawling into my sleeping bag while I ate my soup last night.

My runs over the last couple weeks haven't been too impacted by weather, but it can be tough getting the motivation to go outside and freeze when you're already inside freezing.  I've been sticking to my marathon training plan (which is a very modified version of the Hal Higdon plan), and so far I haven't missed a run.  I did run once last week during a snowstorm, which was pretty tricky.  The roads were very slick so I stuck to just running up and down my own road to stay safe.  My road averages about 2 vehicles an hour, and at least 1 of them is lost, so I felt safe enough running on it during the snow storm.  What I don't advocate is running on normal streets during a snowstorm.  I know I'm going to pick up some haters here, but running during a snowstorm on busy streets isn't badass.  It's foolish, dangerous, and reckless.  Not just for you, who could slip or twist something or get hit by a sliding car, but for the commuters and plow drivers and sanders and everyone else out there on the road trying to safely navigate through the snowy conditions.  I'm all about sharing the road and sticking to your training plan, but if you're a danger to drivers then find an alternative for just that one day.

Last Saturday, after the roads had cleared up from the storm, I met Julia for a 5 mile run in Uxbridge.  It was 20 degrees and blustery, and it was one of those days that it's a good thing I was meeting someone or I might have wussed out.  Our run was good, but there were several drivers that felt we shouldn't be out there on the road.  Some of the roads we were on had sidewalks which hadn't been plowed, but the roads were wide enough that there was plenty of room.  Still, we had some angry looks.  One guy even honked his horn and waved his arm at us to move over.  We were running as close to the snowbank as possible, it was a very quiet street, and there were no other cars coming.  Julia's Boston Marathon jacket didn't seem to gain any sympathy from drivers either.  We marveled at how quickly people forget about Boston.  These same people driving around with Boston Strong stickers on their cars are shooing us off the roads, apparently forgetting how that sentiment all came about, during a marathon, which we have to train for, in the winter.  Later in our run we had to cross over a narrow bridge, and although there wasn't a lot of traffic, naturally there would be cars everywhere once we got about halfway across the bridge.  A pickup truck coming towards us had to stop and wait for a bunch of cars to pass before he could get around us.  Julia and I both expected to get spit on, but we gave him a big wave and smile and he gave us a big wave back.  Maybe all is not lost with the world!

On Wednesday, Kerri and I went out for a 4 miler at lunch.  I knew it would be frigid and packed pretty much everything I owned into my gym bag.  I was way too bundled up and felt like I was running in a fat suit, so it was a much harder run than I expected.  It was 15 degrees out, and we had the wind in our faces on the way back.  As I undressed in the locker room I discovered that my legs were a very unusual reddish purple color.  I think maybe I need to invest in some pants with more wind resistance!  As a side note, I also noted that Andover drivers as a whole seem nicer than Uxbridge drivers.

Yesterday I decided to head out through the trail to run across the West Hill Dam and out on some flat roads in Uxbridge.  I was getting bored with going up my street and needed a change of scenery.  That turned out to be a futile effort, because there was so much ice on all of the trails that I couldn't even get to the dam!  Instead I ended up just doing some trail running on bare sections of trails, until I'd hit another glacier and have to turn around.  It was frustrating but not really that bad.  It was actually kind of a nice change of pace from asphalt and cars and constantly checking my watch, and I think my feet really appreciated running on a softer surface than the frozen pavement.

So, listen up Mother Nature.  I know last summer when it was 100 degrees every day and I was dying, I swore that I would never, ever complain about being cold this winter.  I also may have mentioned recently in a blog post that I'd take a 20 degree run over an 80 degree run.  But that wasn't supposed to be a personal challenge to freeze me to death.  Go ahead and warm up you frigid beast.

2013 Highlights - My Top 10 List

In David Letterman style...

10: My first 40 mile bike ride (and crash)

By late August, most of us had been feeling pretty confident on the bikes.  Several of us had done over 30 miles, and after I survived Death By Hills (number 8 on this list) I felt ready for anything.  Jackie, Kristen, Luke and I headed out for a 50 mile ride on a very hot and humid day.  None of us had eaten first.  None of us realized just how hilly the course was that we plotted.  We had ridden most of these roads before but not all in one ride, and we quickly realized "the Winter Street hill feels a lot worse 30 miles into a ride than 15 miles into a ride".  We decided based on a number of factors that this wasn't the day to attempt 50 miles and cut it short to 40.  As if to further emphasize that we were all gassed and couldn't pedal a single mile more, I managed to fall off my bike at an intersection in Uxbridge in the final mile of the ride.  Yes people saw it happen.  Both me and the bike got some bruises but it made for a good story!

9: Jackie's birthday ride

For Jackie's 32nd birthday in July, a bunch of us got together and did a 32 mile bike ride.  It was the longest ride most of us had ever done, and it was a hot day (90 degrees by the finish).  I used Map My Ride to get precisely 32 miles through Mendon, Northbridge, Upton, Westboro, Hopkinton, and Uxbridge.  Towards the end we were pretty darn hot and most of us were fed up with the hills, but it was Jackie's birthday and she eats hills for breakfast, so for her it was the perfect gift!  Here's a recap of that fun filled day in July!

8: Death by hills

I thought I was decent on a bike, until I decided to go for a relaxing 25 miler with Mark and Diana on the hills of upstate New York in August.  It was the most difficult, painful, and gratifying ride of my life.  It made me realize that you really don't know what you're capable of until you are confronted with a seemingly impossible task, and I also learned that no matter what: Never. Stop. Pedaling.  Check out this post to hear the full account of this unbelievable journey.

7: Boston training run
What I liked about this run so much was that, unlike when we had done it on our own, this one was organized through the Hopkinton running club in March, just weeks before the marathon.  I felt no pressure to keep up with anyone, and Brad and I chit chatted for pretty much the whole 21 miles.  I ended this run feeling great.  It was my longest run on the Boston course, itself an accomplishment, and I was confident and ready for race day. Check out this post for all the details of this great training run.

6: 26x1 club relay
This event, organized by the Somerville Road Runners and located at Tufts University track in June, pits local running clubs against each other in a 26.2 mile relay race.  Our TVFR club was a mix of all ages and abilities, and we gleefully cheered on all of our teammates while they were out on the track.  Some of us picked up some new mile PR's.  I didn't, but I did run the mile in 7:28 with a torn ligament in my foot, so that's got to be some sort of record, right?  When our final runner came towards the finish line, we all met him on the track and finished together as a team.  It was such a memorable team building event, capped off by some well deserved brews at a local Somerville bar.  This event should be on the race calendar of all Boston area running clubs!

5: Hyannis Marathon weekend

Start with a great group of girlfriends sharing some hotel rooms, add in some meatballs, beer, and a deluge of pouring rain on Cape Cod in February, and you have one heck of a fun (and soggy) weekend!  Hyannis has a history of rough winter weather and this weekend didn't disappoint.  We made the best of it with makeshift ponchos, ran with some very heavy, saturated clothes, and warmed ourselves up with some beer afterwards. Here's a link to my Hyannis race recap.

4: The Greenway Challenge

Step 1: Get a cool name for our all-female team like Iron Maidens.
Step 2: Get matching badass shirts.
Step 3: Look fabulous.
Step 4: Kick ass.

The six of us rocked this relay race in September and came in 2nd place in what was one of the most enjoyable days of the year.  Here's a look back at all the fun we had at the Greenway Challenge.


3: The Iron Girl Triathlon

Oh if I had a nickel for every time I said I hated swimming, would never swim in a lake, and would never, ever, ever do a triathlon... and yet with the power of persuasion and a lot of encouragement from friends, I did what I swore I'd never do.  Competing in this triathlon in July was probably one of the most fun athletic accomplishments of my life, and I was quickly bitten by "the bug".  So much so that I've now bought a wetsuit and signed up for a half Ironman!  To relive this incredible day, check out my Iron Girl race report.

2: The Disney Marathon

It's hard to pick just one memory from this trip back in January.  I'd say it's a tie between meeting Scott and Tricia in person for the first time, dressing up like Cruella Deville in the 5K, crossing the marathon finish line (my first!), and hanging out in the hotel afterwards with beer, pizza, and a whole lotta friends.  The whole trip was an unforgettable experience!  To relive any of these adventures, check out my blog archive.

1: The Boston Marathon start line

Even now, eight months after the Boston Marathon, I find it difficult to reflect on this day, either through memories or by reading my race recap of the event.  But I can't deny that the hours leading up to the start, and a good portion of the race, were the most memorable of my life.  Our dreams had come true, we had all made it safely and without injury to the start line on April 15th 2013.  We were about to run the world's greatest race, in the presence of the world's greatest athletes, practically in our own backyards.  It was, without a doubt, a hell of a day.

Here's to a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2014!

5 things I love about running

1. Mental clarity
Few things can clear the stress out of your head faster than going for a run.  I enjoy running with friends, but I also cherish my alone time.  It's time I can work out problems, get some time to myself, and decompress.  9.9 times out of 10 I come back from a run a happier, more productive person.  That's a good deal for pretty much everyone!

2. The challenge
When everything inside you tells you that you can't do something, and you find a way to get it done anyways, that's success.  Overcoming challenges comes in so many forms.  Running a new distance, making it up a hill you always had to walk up before, signing up for a race and following through even though you immediately had buyer's remorse.  Nothing feels better than meeting a challenge.

3. The sense of accomplishment
Often times I get hung up on the things I didn't do, and I forget to look at the accomplishments I had along the way.  Sure I had a lousy foot injury for the better part of this year, but I did run two marathons (my first and second!) and I overcame my fear of road cycling, bought a bike, and completed my first triathlon.  That's a pretty good year, I'd say.

4. Crappy weather
Seriously.  I'll take a 20 degree run over 80 degrees any day of the week.  Rain? Perfect, I love the feel of it on my face.  I love to wonder what drivers think when they pass me in the pouring, freezing rain (like they did today).  I don't even mind dodging the puddles in the road when the cars don't leave me enough space.  Even when I complain about the crappy weather I still love it, because it reminds me of how badass runners can be.  I still squawk about the time we ran the Boston Marathon course and it was so cold that all my water bottles froze and I started crying running up Heartbreak Hill, and some guy stopped to ask me if I was okay.  It sucked at the time, but it's kind of fun looking back on it.  And I'll never forget the time we ran a long run during a snow storm and were constantly passed by trucks spraying sand all over the streets and sandblasting our faces.  That was an interesting 18 miles.

5. The people
If it wasn't for the people I have in my support system, I probably would have given up a long time ago.  The running community is a powerful source of insight, opinions, and motivation.  There have been plenty of times in the last couple years that I've become discouraged, mostly due to untimely injuries, but I have a great group of friends that always remind me that nothing is permanent and I'll be back at it in no time.  Also, running friends give the best presents!

Because they know that after a long cold run, nothing warms you up like a hot cocoa with Kahlua and Bailey's.

Because who else would give such a practical gift as some 9mm ammo?

Because we went through some harsh stuff together in April and all came out okay.

Because they think of things like giving a snowflake necklace to signify the amount of snow we ran in together that helped bond us throughout last season's marathon training.

Because they get that this says it all:

Scenes from this weekend

I wish I could tell you all about the party I had on Friday night, but most of it just isn't suitable for a public audience.  I had a few friends over, and although I can't go into detail, here's a review in pictures:

This wine stopper was a big hit:

Our "signature drink" involved this:

It was quickly determined that naming our drink the "Jill-tini" was a terrible idea

Things got sloppy when this guy crashed the party:

As you can imagine, I didn't get a whole lot done on Saturday.  I spent most of the day watching movies and eating leftover meatballs.  I had a run planned, but ehhhhhh Boston's still 4 months away right?

Yesterday I got in my longest run so far, post-injury.  A whopping humdinger of a 3.1 miles.  Most of my runs have been on the safety of a treadmill, and this was my first time in probably six months running up my street.  Wow I forgot how much faster the time goes when there's something other than senior citizens doing bicep curls to look at!

I haven't really talked a lot about my heel lately because I didn't have any good updates.  A few weeks ago I had a cortisone shot which seemed to work wonders, but then after two weeks I was back in a lot of pain.  After taking another week off of running I decided to try a totally different type of shoe to see if maybe changing my gait would help.  I went rogue and ditched the Brooks, and got myself a pair of Altra Torin zero drop shoes.

It was a huge adjustment going from a supportive shoe into something with virtually no support, and I quickly realized how weak my foot/ankle/lower leg muscles are!  I was sore in places I'd never been sore before, but my heel felt great!  The wide toe box is great for my platypus feet, so I'm crossing fingers that these continue to work out for me as my runs get longer.

My plan for this week is to do a short run today (in the pouring freezing rain) and then hopefully a long run on Christmas morning.  A 5 miler sounds like a pretty great Christmas present to me!