Monday, February 20, 2012

Tough Run and Product Review

Last week I blogged all about the wonderful and fattening treats everyone made/gave me for my birthday.  Let's just say it got worse on Tuesday for Valentine's Day.  And after eating tons of sugar that day and having an equally horrible crappy 3 miles treadmill run that night because of it, I gave the rest of my candy I had at work to my parents!  I was talking to Dave from Experience Life (who needs to update his blog, by the way) about it Tuesday and the crappy way I was feeling about my eating, my gaining weight, etc.  Dave gave me a swift kick in the ass as he loves to do some helpful advice and I chewed on his comments for a while.  While thinking about it, I decided I needed to implement a plan of some kind.  I came up with planning my meals for the next day a day in advance.  Yes, I know this is old news for some of you, but for me planning is not easy to do!  I'm not a planner!  But my plan was to make and eat breakfast at home in the morning before I went to work in the attempt to eat a more healthy, balanced and filling breakfast to start out my day.  And I planned my breakfast, snack, lunch and snack the night before (even if it was 11:00 pm).  The only thing I hadn't gotten to planning was dinner and if needed, an evening snack.  And I was pleased to find out that this "planning" stuff seemed to work for me!  So, I'll keep trying this and hopefully keep the momentum going.  I actually didn't plan anything today as I was super busy yesterday but I'll start again for tomorrow.

Saturday I needed to run 13 miles for my marathon training.  I can't believe this was the end of the first 8 weeks of my 18 week training plan!!  I was a little nervous for my calves as even though they were feeling better, they were still sore the week before when I ran 12 miles on flat trails.  This week, I was running the 13 with my normal marathon training group The Yankee Runners in a hilly neighborhood.  But I got some compression sleeves to try for my calves and this was the first long run that I was going to wear them on. 


Bonus was that I got them for free!  Now, my run group deviated from our normal street route (because it's only a 6 mile loop) and went into the trails so we wouldn't have to repeat.  The weather was perfect!  Probably in the 30's with sun.  I could not have asked for a better winter to train for a spring marathon!  The trail however was choppy and uneven.  Due to rain a few days earlier, there were frozen muddy shoe prints and horse prints on much of the trail.  It made for a very rough run.  Trying to keep your footing and running and the tons of hills!  I felt like I might die!!  In fact, maybe 7 miles in, my former pace leader took a spill as she tripped over a rock!  I was of course a few steps behind the group and I looked up and saw her flat on her back!  She was rolling around in pain and I didn't know if she slipped and landed on her back or what.  She said it was her ankle and knee.  Luckily, we had a nurse on hand and was checking her out.  I asked Jeanne if she wanted us to call for help (not that I would know where to tell them we were at!) but she said no, that she was going to be fine.  After about 5-10 mins, she got up, shook it off an continued to run!  She is a little scraped up today but she said she is feeling ok, just a little sore.  I happily joked around with Jeanne that if she needed to slow up or walk at any time, I would be more than happy to stick with her!!  Haha! :-)

With one mile left in my 13 miles, I realized my stomach felt completely empty!  I'm usually really good with knowing what to eat before a run and I even had a gu with me during the run.  But I think the extra hills in the trails and the choppy terrain really used up a lot of my energy!  I've never had a completely empty stomach feeling on a long run before ever!  I think I may need to bring 2 gu's or bring something else for energy during my long runs.  Luckily there was a gatorade stop about .80 miles left in my run.  I normally eat a half serving of oatmeal before the runs (a full serving during normal races because I have more time to digest it) and a banana.  This morning, I only had the 1/2 serving of oatmeal.  I didn't have any bananas.  So I may need to try to eat a full serving of oatmeal and a banana and maybe even get up about 15 mins earlier just to have more time to digest it before running.  What do you eat for energy during your long runs?  I feel like I may be one of those people that can't chew well while running more than 16 miles, which is why I stick to gu's.

The good news:  I did not have one ounce of pain in my calves after my long run!  I have almost no doubt it has to be the compression sleeves!  I mean, that is part of it.  The other part is the fact that I got a few good stretches from the chiroprator for my calves which I've been doing.  But even after my 6 mile run earlier that week, my calves felt a little tight.  But they felt pretty great after the 13 miles!  My legs were understandably tired but that was about all. 

The other good news:  I secretly love the hills!  Don't tell anyone!  Yes, my pace is slower when running the hills in those trails.  Yes, I did stop and have to walk up them a few times.  Yes, I felt like my lungs were going to burst and I might die!  But I always love the feeling I get when I do something and finish and it was completely hard for me to do!  (Side note: not to mention that I have a completely flat butt...and I think the hills are giving my completely flat butt a little something extra...just a little). lol

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

10 comments:

  1. I love hills too! They make for a better workout, better prepare you for races with hills, and it's just a little bit more bad ass. Plus one of my favorite quotes is "It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top." Great quote on so many levels.

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  2. I am happy you felt so good after the run, despite the tough trails and hills. And happy your pace leader is okay. I rolled my ankle two weeks ago and it got really messed up! I was surprised how much that action hurt me.

    I take GUs every 4 miles during long runs. And eat a full breakfast too (usually oatmeal and banana, like you).

    I was thinking the other day that if I planned my meals out for the week I would eat so so so much healthier.

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    1. Usually I take Gu's every 6 miles (1 hour). Seems to work for me...and actually, the run was 13 so, I should have taken more. Maybe chopped it down to every 5 miles.

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    2. And actually for last year's marathon, that was my plan, to take it every 6 miles but then at the last few Gu times, shorten it to about 5 miles.

      Since my run was going long due to the hills, every 5 miles might be better.

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  3. I think you're doing great!!! Keep up the awesome work Amanda!!

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  4. Good evening Amanda, I was just reading your story of achievement and I was left thoroughly impressed. You are exemplary of the human spirit to overcome, excel and achieve. My compliments to you Amanda, my you continue your journey of strength to attain personal fulfillment while at the same time inspiring those around you.

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    Replies
    1. That you, I really appreciate the kind words. Best wishes to you as well.

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  5. If you have chronic back pain, it is not important to look for leading specialists in state-of-the-art clinics. Chiropractic facilities are also outfited as virtually any main healthcare facility. They have all the required tools to provide adequate care to all their individuals that experience twinges and displeasure.

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