Making changes...

We all have disappointing runs or training sessions from time to time.  Your head hurts, your body hurts, your mind is distracted, you've got too many other things to do - regardless of why, those workouts just leaving me feeling down and wanting something better afterward.

What I always hope doesn't happen is a body or mind crash during a race.  Unfortunately, I had just such an experience this past weekend at the Disney Princess Half Marathon. 

I've lined up at that start line four other times. I know the twists, the turns, the ups & downs.  I even know the speed bumps.  I keep coming back because it's predictable, I enjoy the atmosphere and I am always seeded well enough to end up in a starting corral that gives me space to run my race (as opposed to getting bottled up with the 24,000 other runners).

Coming out of the race, you would think I was happy with my performance.  I finished in the top 6% overall and the top 7% in my age group.  But I went into the race with a submission time that placed me in the top 1% of the race field....and, in all but a few races, I tend to compete against myself and the clock rather than the race field. 

So this weekend I was chasing 1 hour, 48 minutes.  That was my verified submission time for a half marathon finish in the past couple years.

In my heart of hearts, I know that my fitness still isn't back to that level, but 1 hour 55 minutes should have been achievable.

I felt good moseying up to the start (at 5:00am) in corral A (right behind the elites....which always gives me an extra boost of speed).  I didn't really do anything different in my race prep.  I didn't wear new shoes or a new piece of running gear.  I was hydrated.  My back felt good.  Everything pointed toward a good race.

At the start, I was pulling 8:30 miles, which would have landed me below my race goal of 1:55.  I was in to watching the costumes, enjoying the cooler air.  Then, almost like smacking into a wall or trudging through a bog, at mile 5 the wind went out of my sails.

I felt like there was nothing I could do to make myself move any faster, and my time began to degrade pretty dramatically.  I refueled.  I gazed at Cinderella's castle.  I smiled up at Anna and Elsa trying to gain some new momentum.  Nothing.  THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO MAKE MY LEGS TURN OVER FASTER.  That is as frustrating as it gets.

So now I'm looking at that 2:03 finish and trying to figure out what I need to do to get back down to that 1:55 (or even better, break that 1:48).

I've recently increased my strength and flexibility training, returning to yoga and pilates twice a week.  But I know that my frame is still caring 20 extra baby pounds and I've got to get my diet under control.  Which means, next step is cleaning out the kitchen and convincing my family to hold me accountable.

A Stacie who meets her goals is a happy Stacie.  Here's to the sweat and tears and all the hard work it will take to regain that fitness level.  Happy trails!!!


2015 Miles to Date: 137.14

Observations:  While it would be easy to let a bad performance go to my head, I can control the impact said performance has on my morale and I refuse to let it get in my way.  Just another hurdle to overcome....

Listening...

...is about the most important thing a runner can do.

The toughest lesson most of us "I'm invincible and made of steel," type-A, delusional runners struggle to embrace is just that....listening to our bodies.

It's goes something like this:  "my ankle hurts today, oh well, I need to run 5 miles."  "My back hurts today, too bad I'm sure a run will make it feel better."  "I'm hacking up a lung, which must mean I should run 5-6 miles in the freezing cold in order to clear my lungs."

In almost every instance, the exact opposite is really what the runner should have done.  Listening to your body's cues for when things feel good and bad can make you a better, healthier, stronger runner.

I've learned that lesson all too well through my own errors.  In 2010, I injured my SI joint...pretty bad.  After weeks of running through pretty excruciating pain, I went to see my physical therapist.

As the PT for the Navy cross country team, she's used to seeing runners like me, unwilling to listen to what our body says and take the necessary rest.  So, she gave me two choices - (a) I could either rest for a few weeks and heal or (b) I could extend the time it would take to heal, continue running in pain and do some stretch and strengthening work.

Obviously I chose (b).

I continued to run and did the exercises.  Walking and sitting was painful.  Running was only slightly less painful.  I became a stock owner in icy hot.  It took me two years before I could run much more than a half marathon again.

Fast forward to today.  That lesson sucked and I decided to do things a bit differently.

Recently, I took part in an awesome girls weekend at a great friends house.  She scheduled a massage therapist to come over and rub away the stress of life.  I rarely get massages because my back is way to sensitive, but I decided to go for it and focus on shoulders and legs....yet forgot to tell the masseuse to stay clear of the SI joint area.  Whoa is me.

The next day I was running on the treadmill and noticed a twinge in my lower back.  Crap.  Later that day I loaded up in the car and drove to Ohio.  After exiting the car, the twinge was a bit more of a nagging pain.  Double crap.  And the next day it was no better.

But.....this time instead of running through it to keep racking up my miles for the year, I just took the time off.  Was it hard?  Uh, yeah, understatement of the year.  It was snowing most of those days and I LOVE running in the snow.

 That said, the thought of missing out on my plans for this running season, would have been harder.

It only took about a week before my back was feeling better and I didn't really miss a beat.  Am I behind on miles for the year?  Yeah, but with the warmer weather right around the corner, I'll quickly catch back up.  So, learn from my mistakes and corrections.  Listen when your body hurts.  Go harder/farther if its praising the heavens.  Good or bad, just listen.  Happy trails!!!

2015 Miles to Date:  115.41

Observations:  Mentally I had a really tough time looking at my running bag, carrying it with me every day but not using it while I was recovering.  I also felt really darn proud of myself when I did reopen my bag and tie on those shoes again.  I chose the right path, rather than the one that my head was screaming for.  Admittedly though, I became a bit of a cranky beast.